By Larry Pynn , Vancouver Sun
March 18, 2009 Comments (55)

Aboriginal groups stood in solidarity Tuesday with one of the world’s biggest animal rights organizations in demanding the provincial government ban widely unpopular trophy hunting of bears on the B.C. coast.

Percy Starr, a Kitasoo hereditary chief and member of the Coastal First Nations coalition, told a Vancouver news conference the killing of bears for sport goes against both aboriginal culture and efforts to generate an alternative economy based on sustainable tourism, including bear watching.

He complained that “trophy hunters still have the privilege of slaughtering bears in front of our guests” and that his people “are determined that the bear trophy hunt must stop.”

Bruce Passmore of Humane Society International/ Canada promised to exert international pressure on Premier Gordon Campbell’s Liberal government to end trophy hunting before the spring bear hunt begins April 1. He urged people around the world to consider the plight of bears in B.C. when considering a visit to this province, including during the 2010 Olympics, but stopped short of calling for a boycott.

“We’re not at that point yet. I really think the government will make the right decision.”

Environment Minister Barry Penner said a ban on bear hunting was not part of a lengthy land-use and conservancy plan for the central and north coast that involved native groups.

“I understand there are a range of views. We’re working hard to find an appropriate balance.”

Ministry spokesperson Kate Thompson said about 16,000 grizzlies and 80,000 to 100,000 black bears live in B.C.

Scott Ellis, general manager of the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C., argued the bear hunt is conservative, scientifically justifiable, and a way to control populations.

Trophy hunters killed 317 grizzlies in 2008 — 218 by residents and 99 by non-residents — down from 365 in 2007. Another 3,476 black bears were shot in 2006, the most recent year for which stats are available, which included 2,005 by residents and 1,471 by non-residents.

The 30,000-member B.C. Wildlife Federation also believes bear hunting is sustainable.

Ellis noted trophy hunters kill older males that would otherwise kill cubs and often pass up the opportunity to hunt smaller bears.

“It’s similar to catch and release in fishing, I guess.”

He said hunting fees contribute to provincial conservation programs and to rural economies, with a guided grizzly hunt fetching as much as $15,000 to $20,000 US, and about $6,500 US for a black bear.

Pacific Wild’s Ian McAllister said there is no fair chase because hunters are allowed to pull into estuaries, raise the motors of their boats, and legally shoot foraging bears.

McAllister complained that one prominent bear guide on the coast, Robert Milligan, continues to operate despite having been convicted of illegal hunting bears. Milligan was convicted of 23 hunting violations in 1998.

Arnie Bellis, vice-president of the Council of the Haida Nation, said the term trophy hunt is “too noble” for what actually takes place.

“These are very dark days for B.C. The citizens of B.C. are not condoning it.”

A 2009 Ipsos Reid poll showed 78 per cent of B.C. residents oppose trophy hunting of bears.

The Wildlife Act requires hunters who kill black bears to remove the meat from the bush, but there is no such requirement for grizzly meat. Art Sterritt of Coastal First Nations said he has seen no evidence of trophy hunters killing bears for food.

“Our elders have seen carcasses of bears floating down rivers denuded of their hides and heads and paws.”