Our very active WILDLIFE COMMITTEE performs functions
which are both practical and immediate (placing salt in the winter to help
prevent wildlife collisions) and advisory in nature, representing the views of
local hunters at the Regional level and through the BC Wildlife Federation
(BCWF) to the Provincial government.
This involves many hours of reviewing proposed regulation changes and
management plans. We send members to
participate in deliberations of both the East Kootenay Wildlife Association
(BCWF Region 4 East) and the West Kootenay Outdoorsman (BCWF Region 4 West) and
support both these organizations financially.
These are a few of the many important and current issues of
which all members should be aware. The
Province is pursuing policies to increase hunter recruitment and
opportunity. This goal sometimes
conflicts with Regional management issues or the desire to maintain a quality
hunt. Some in the B.C. Wildlife
Federation would like to virtually eliminate LEH
hunting; others support the use of LEH
to provide quality experience and/or quality wildlife in some areas. The lack of a Provincial plan for predator
control seems to be negatively impacting many wildlife populations. The Caribou Recovery Plan may be having a
negative impact on habitat enhancement (the lack of controlled burns, e.g.) and
the management of other, huntable
species (indirect predator control using alternate prey reduction).
The Committee discusses the issues and brings their concerns
and ideas to a general meeting of the Club to get the members direction as to
which policies the Club should support at the Regional and Provincial
level. It is a long, sometimes painful
and controversial process which sometimes involves difficult compromises, but
Club members do have a say concerning the regulations which affect them. Come out to meetings, learn the issues, have
your say, make a difference.
CONTACTS:
Brian Huscroft 250-428-5040 Gerry Bond 250-428-6033
Continue checking this page. Current issues will occasionally be posted
here.