Truth about the Harvest Allocation Policy

SURREY, BC, Jan. 23, 2015 /CNW/ - There is significant misinformation about the way wildlife is managed in British Columbia (BC).  This backgrounder attempts to clear up the incorrect information and provide an explanation of the way wildlife is managed in the province.

The Ministry's decision on December 10, 2014 was the result of 10 years of exhaustive discussions between the BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF), the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC), and the provincial government.  Including talks with a neutral facilitator to help resolve this longstanding dispute.  The Ministry made a balanced decision and neither party was completely satisfied. However, it is an improvement on the previous policy and provides increased certainty for allocated species.  Putting this decision into legislation will finally close this matter.   

How do other jurisdictions allocate hunting opportunity between residents and non-residents?
Wildlife managers use a variety of tools to manage and allocate the harvest of big game animals.  These tools include laws, regulations, licences, tags, and lottery systems.  Most jurisdictions allocate hunting opportunity based on the available species tags for residents and non-residents.  These are examples of the true splits of allocated hunts in BC:

SPECIES	REGION	GROUP	ALLOCATION	TAGS ISSUED	TAGS-TO-TAGS
Moose	Omineca	Residents	80%	2,902	88%
		Guides	20%	382	12%
Moose	Skeena	Residents	75%	1222	80%
		Guides	25%	300	20%
Moose	Cariboo	Residents	77%	2,447	98%
		Guides	23%	155	2%
Moose	Kootenay	Residents	81%	537	92%
		Guides	19%	44	8%
Roosevelt elk	Island	Residents	87%	175	93%
		Guides	13%	14	7%
Goat	Thompson	Residents	71%	165	92%
		Guides	29%	15	8%
Sheep	Skeena	Residents	64%	66	91%
		Guides	36%	7	9%
Grizzly bear	Kootenay	Residents	74%	320	97%
		Guides	26%	11	3%
Grizzly bear	Peace	Residents	64%	378	91%
		Guides	36%	39	9%

This decision will provide "…non-resident hunters the best deal in North America"
Some jurisdictions have a lower percentage of tag sales to non-residents than BC, while some have higher.  In BC, the average share for the guide outfitting industry is 12% - consistent with neighbouring jurisdictions.

Have hunting opportunities for the resident recreational hunters been reduced?
Most hunts in BC are managed through general open season, tags purchased over-the-counter.  This decision has no effect on these hunts.  For hunts that need to be allocated, there are approximately 17,500 tags issued every year for hunts that need to be allocated.  The FLNRO decision will result in 618 fewer resident tags or a 3.5% decrease as compared to 2014.  This decision provides a little relief for those small family businesses but does not replace the revenue lost from the new Harvest Allocation Policy. 

This decision will result in "…5,000 fewer hunting licence sales for BC residents" 
Most of the species tags are sold over-the-counter so it is highly unlikely that there will be a reduction in the hunting licences sold to BC residents. Last year the top 5 tags were:

1. Mule deer – 81,596 tags  (over-the-counter purchase)
2. Whitetail deer – 52,346 tags (over-the-counter purchase)
3. Moose – 39,049 tags  (draw and over-the-counter purchase)
4. Elk – 24,748 tags (over-the-counter purchase)
5. Black bear – 21,836 tags (over-the-counter purchase)

"…the Wildlife Harvest Allocation Policy which gives a larger share of hunting permits to BC guide outfitters and a smaller share of hunting permits to BC resident hunters"
This is an incorrect statement.  Resident recreational hunters have approximately 88% of the opportunity for allocated hunts.  Most hunts are not allocated but are managed through general open season, tags purchased over-the-counter.  These hunts are not affected by the Harvest Allocation Policy.  

"Foreign hunters have decreased, while the resident hunters have increased"
This is correct - with the implementation of the allocation policy in 2007 and other economic factors the number of non-resident licence sales has decreased from 6,387 in 2005/2006 to 4,491 in 2013/2014. Over the same period, the resident hunting licences have increased from 85,633 to 102,113.  The abolishment of the long gun registry and the Hunter Recruitment and Retention Strategy is working.  Unfortunately, this increase in resident recreational hunters has put additional strain on an old draw system and is the cause of much frustration.

"Foreign hunters do not spend money in rural communities"
Guide outfitting is the founder of the tourism industry in BC and an important contributor to rural economies.  The guide outfitting industry brings $120 million of new money each year to the province.  The average guided client spends $27,000 on their hunting expedition – very high value; low volume tourists.  Almost all of this is spent in BC on improvements, infrastructure, equipment, supplies, services, and taxes.  'New money' benefits all British Columbians including the non-hunting public.

"Why did the GOABC not want to fully implement the policy they agreed to in 2007?" 
The GOABC supported the intent and guiding principles of the new allocation policy.  As the financial impacts became apparent, the GOABC asked for an independent impact assessment.  Economists and other experts confirmed that the loss of flexibility (success rates, regional allocation, and access to vacant areas) created significant unintended financial impacts to the industry.  While there is some relief in the December 10, 2014 decision, the GOABC expects the policy will still negatively impact the industry $3-4 million per year.

Will 110 to 186 animals save the guide outfitting industry?
It will not, but we are pleased with the certainty that comes with fixed splits.  There are many small family businesses that will still have significant financial hardship because of the new Harvest Allocation Policy.

In summary, both resident recreational hunters and guide outfitters in BC have longer seasons, more species to hunt, and greater opportunities to hunt than most other jurisdictions in the world.  Most species are managed through general open seasons and this allocation decision will have virtually zero impact on the resident recreational hunting opportunity in BC.  Now all hunter conservationists can focus on wildlife and the habitat they depend on.

SOURCE Guide Outfitters Association of B.C.

Please call Scott Ellis, Executive Director of the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia, at 604-541-6332 for more information.