The recent decision by the current Liberal Government relevant to the allocation of our wildlife resources, clearly illustrates they hold the non-resident commercial sector as a much higher priority than the residents of British Columbia.
It appears that the constant lobbying by the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. has indeed paid off.
To continue to "prop up" the commercial industry with our provincial resource, and especially at the expense of the resident, is dead wrong.
No other small business has this same support with the intent of making them a viable business.
Every animal that is given to an outfitter equates to multiple opportunities lost for local hunters.
Why should we not be able to hunt in our own backyard instead of watching non-residents return on an annual basis?
Resident hunter numbers have risen by approximately 17,000 and non-resident numbers have decreased by approximately 2,000 to only 3,600, yet government is allocating more to the guides when many cannot use what they have now.
They currently enjoy the best percentages in North America yet are not happy and want more and will never be satisfied as proven over time.
Most local hunters look forward to filling their freezer, but now that will become more difficult as we watch non-resident commercial hunters enjoy increased opportunities.
Is it fair to impact resident opportunity?
Living in our province and having priority access to our resources seems to have become lost in this decision.
Jim Glaicar
President, Spruce City
Wildlife Association
