The B.C. Wildlife Federation supports the provincial government’s plan to employ resident hunters to harvest and test larger numbers of deer in areas where Chronic Wasting Disease has been confirmed.
However, we are concerned that the execution of this plan violates the spirit of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, by barring the participation of licensed hunters from across British Columbia.
The provincial government is seeking to reduce the population of deer near the community of Cranbrook, by permitting at least 50 local hunters after asking the East Kootenay Wildlife Association to supply the names of candidate hunters for the operation.
The BCWF supports the use of resident hunters to conduct local population reduction and sampling in areas with CWD where safe to do so and we are pleased that the meat from harvested animals will not go to waste.
The BCWF believes that hunting is the most important management tool for monitoring and gauging CWD prevalence in isolated areas. But we believe providing resident hunters from across the province with a fair and equitable opportunity to participate in the hunt increases social support and is far more cost-effective.
B.C.’s response to CWD has been cumbersome due to a lack of funding, ineffective communications, and the inability to act expeditiously according to its own response plan.
The BCWF will continue to work with the Wildlife and Habitat branch to develop a system that is proactive, responsive, and allows every single licensed hunter an equal opportunity to apply and participate in the government’s population reduction and sampling efforts.