Hundreds Protest for BC Residents' Hunting Rights in West Kelowna

The protest against changes to wildlife allocation policy drew a huge crowd on Saturday. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

A peaceful protest in West Kelowna on Saturday drew hundreds of people with its rallying cry.

The protest was against the recently announced changes to Wildlife Allocations, which gives a larger percentage of harvestable wildlife than before to hunters outside of B.C. The updated policy, which was announced in December 2014, now gives 20 to 40 per cent of harvestable wildlife to non-resident hunters, decreasing the amount allocated to B.C. hunters.

The crowd walked to the premier's West Kelowna office to deliver their thoughts on the policy. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

The government of B.C. claims that the impacts on B.C. hunters are “minimized” in the policy, and that the policy is necessary to help the businesses of guide outfitters succeed. However, this move is being criticized as the privatization of B.C. wildlife. Sean Richardson, recently elected President of the Oceola Fish and Game Club in Lake Country, was one of the organizers for the event. “We have a strong message, and that is we do not believe in the privatization of public resources,” said Richardson. “We look at wildlife as something that belongs to everyone in British Columbia and we don't believe that 20 to 40 per cent of our harvestable surplus of wildlife should be given to foreigners.”

Richardson has been a hunter nearly his whole life, and both of his children started hunting at around 10 years old. “It's something that's a really important part of our family and traditions,” said Richardson. He wasn't alone, as many in the eager crowd were parents with their children, many dressed in camouflage to show support for the tradition and sport of hunting.

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

There were some at the protest who were protesting the protesters, calling for action against hunting in B.C. to protect the wildlife. The situation, however, remained calm.

“What we're doing here is a peaceful protest,” said Richardson. “We're trying to show that we have a lot of numbers. There are 102,000 resident hunters in British Columbia. There are 230 guide outfits, and there are 4900 foreign hunters that hunt here every year. We're showing that our numbers are strong.”

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

The crowd walked from the Superstore parking lot on Old Okanagan Highway in West Kelowna all the way down to Premier Christy Clark's office, cheering with their signs at supportive honks from passing vehicles. At the office, many delivered letters to the premier, giving their personal feelings about the updated policy.

The decision for a different allocation framework does not include General Open Season opportunities such as mule deer, whitetail deer, and black bears. It does, however, increase allocations to non-resident hunters for grizzly bears, elk, big horn sheep, and moose.

For the B.C. government's defense on the allocation decision, check out their fact sheet. You can learn more about the criticism of the decision on the Oceola Fish and Game Club's website.

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)