Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson –

“I made slight revisions to the hunts for moose, bighorn sheep, grizzly
bear, Roosevelt elk and bison to address the concerns I heard after the
decision was released. I now look forward to working with the BC Wildlife
Federation and Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. on ways we can all
work more effectively together on wildlife management.”

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve
Thomson released a revised decision on wildlife harvest allocations
today.

Conservation is the highest priority, and if there are concerns for the
viability of a wildlife population then harvest opportunities will be
reduced or even suspended. Allocations for resident and non-resident
hunters are set only after conservation requirements and First Nations
food, social, and ceremonial harvest opportunities have been met.

Currently, there are 34 hunts in the province that need to be allocated
between resident hunters and non-resident hunters. Initially issued in
December 2014, today’s decision revises allocation splits for the
following hunts:

* Bull elk and either sex elk on Vancouver Island.
* Moose in the Thompson and Omineca regions.
* Bison in the Peace.
* Bighorn sheep and grizzly bear in the Kootenays.

Overall, the number of animals transferred to guide outfitters from
resident hunters as a result of today’s decision is about 60 animals,
when compared to 2014. Of the 45,700 animals harvested by resident
hunters each year in B.C., only about 8% are on allocation.

Thomson has also committed to a review of the thinhorn sheep hunt and
“either-sex elk hunt” in agricultural portions of the Peace by fall 2015.