Grizzly Bears - Hunters Provide The Majority of Funding for Conservation

Scott Ellis, the General Manager of the Guide Outfitters Association of BC (GOABC), says “the best way to maintain healthy Grizzly Bear populations is to allow hunting”.

Hunting is part of our outdoor heritage and thousands of people enjoy the social, spiritual or lifestyle qualities that hunting offers. All hunters share a love of nature and a respect for wildlife. This instills a strong passion and commitment towards conservation not preservation.

The provincial Allocation Policy defines the share of harvest between resident and commercial users at 60:40, respectively. The harvest is very controlled; resident’s share is allocated through a lottery system (Limited Entry Hunting), with compulsory inspection, and the guide outfitter’s harvest is monitored through quotas and guide declarations. The annual harvest is only 2% of the population and the target animals are older boars which are past their prime. This harvest does not impact the population.

The hunting industry contributes approximately $350,000 million annually to the province of BC. The hunting community is comprised of resident hunters and guide outfitters. There are 233 guide outfitters in the province that employ over 2,000 direct people in rural communities. The commercial revenue from guide outfitting is $120 million annually in BC.

Since 1981, the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund (HCTF) has raised in excess of $100 million for more than 2,000 wildlife management and habitat enhancement projects throughout the province. Over 40% of this funding comes from licences, tags, fees, and royalties paid by non-residents (non-residents are required to use a licenced guide when hunting big-game in BC).

According to an independent scientific panel, government biologists, and carnivore experts, the population of Grizzly Bears in BC is 17,000 animals and growing. This science is supported by the anecdotal evidence from guide outfitters that confirms increased sightings in the field. The main reason for a record harvest last year is due to an abundance of Grizzly Bears.

BC is considered the “Serengeti of the north” with 24 of the 29 North American big-game species. GOABC and its members are committed to a healthy guiding industry with best management practices for proper conservation. Many of our members have been in this business for generations and plan to be in this industry for many years to come. A sustainable harvest will ensure a healthy grizzly Bear population for all British Columbians to enjoy.