This is a response to Keith Gordon's "Grizzly hunting lobby offers feeble excuses."
Hunters have a deep appreciation and connection to the land; we make a conscious choice to know where our food comes from.
The argument of "grizzly isn't edible" is completely untrue. Black bear has long been considered edible, and ironically, have the same diet as grizzly bears.
This argument is an attempt to drive attention to anti-hunters goal: to stop hunting and raise money.
Attention equals emotion.
Emotion equals dollars.
How many person hours do these organizations put into projects that directly give back to wildlife? Tangible projects with a measurable result.
Locally, hunters, anglers and conservationists donate tens of thousands of hours to stream enhancement, wildlife projects and nature education to ensure we have wildlife and habitat for the future generations.
This year alone, I have invested well over a hundred volunteer hours, as well as money into restoration and conservation projects right here in the Prince George area.
We've all seen the polls where it's claimed over 90 per cent of British Columbians disagree with the trophy grizzly hunt.
Ironically, these are done by conservation organizations, the same organizations which have never done a project around Prince George but seem to have money for polls and splashy newspaper adds in urban B.C.
Rephrase the question asked to "do you support a science-based management hunt that is sustainable where all meat and parts are used?" and I'd bet the answer would change resoundingly.
Like it or not, humans have altered the landscape in a way that we need to intervene now to keep things balanced.
The grizzly bear hunt is an important management tool in B.C.
At last estimates, the grizzly bear population in British Columbia is in the neighbourhood of 15,000 bears. The population can handle a six per cent human-caused mortality a year and hunters take less than 300 total, according to harvest statistics.
So with the most highly regulated hunt in British Columbia, we are actually increasing the population and it's hunters that help this to happen.
When it comes to sustainability and conservation, you will never hear a hunter argue against closing a hunt.
Hunters are the ones standing up first about sustainability and we are donating our money and time to help turn things around.
What are you doing for the future?
Steve Hamilton
Prince George
