RE: Hunting changes a good thing, Jan. 13 letter
It should come as no surprise that Michael Schneider is a guide-outfitter and that these changes benefit his pocket book.
Who these changes do not benefit at all is people like me, the resident hunter. Resident hunters are the people who rely on wild game to feed our families the most nutritious and healthy meat available.
We are British Columbians who pay our taxes, pay license fees and surcharges for wildlife managemen, and volunteer our time to conserve and protect fish and wildlife for future generations.
Between 1981 and 2011 non-resident hunters harvested just over eight per cent of all the moose taken from the Omineca, and 14 per cent of the bull moose.
With the latest decision guide-outfitters are being awarded 25 per cent of the bull moose allocation, more than three times the historical harvest. According to Schneider this is "no big deal."
The average number of resident hunters who hunted moose in the Omineca was 12,500 - by 2011 it was less than 10,000. No big deal.
Schneider talk about resident hunters enjoying general open season for sheep. The Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. has pushed to put resident hunters on a lottery draw for sheep hunting.
And for what reason other than the almighty dollar?
Speaking of the dollar, Schneider, why did you personally donate to the Liberal Party?
If you were being severely impacted by the policy, where did the money come from to make these donations? I know my family could not afford to make these kinds of donations to political parties.
Were your donations made to the same politicians as the ones that signed this into policy, and now back the decision?
We can't question the Prince George MLA Mike Morris in person on this because he has stopped responding to requests for meetings.
You have awakened a sleeping giant in the resident hunters. You have lobbied to privatize a public resource, one which resident hunters will fight to protect and conserve.
We will not back down.
Steve Hamilton
Prince George
