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Trophy hunters who leave their grizzly bear kill to rot would no longer be on the right side of the law if a new bill proposed by the Green Party is approved by the B.C. legislature.

B.C. MLA Andrew Weaver said the action aims to "kill" the trophy hunting of grizzlies in the province.

“If this bill were to pass, it puts an end to [the] trophy killing of grizzly bears,” Weaver told the Vancouver Observer.

The sole Green Party representative in the legislature of 85 MLAs says the law would alter the Wildlife Act, such that licensed hunters who shoot grizzlies must now take home the "edible" meat.

He announced his proposal to a large crowd of more than one hundred hunters and citizens on the Victoria legislature lawn Monday morning before introducing it into the legislature.

Weaver said trophy hunters who merely cut off grizzly heads and paws would no longer be welcome in B.C.

He added that his bill is a “compromise" that satisfies both responsible hunters, as well as urban environmentalists and conservationists. He cited a 2013 telephone survey research by Coastal First Nations.

“Ninety-five per cent of hunters believe you shouldn’t kill, unless you eat what you kill. And the overwhelming — 87 per cent — of British Columbians don’t want trophy killing."

“It’s viewed as wasteful,” he added.

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/proposed-law-aims-kill-trophy-hunting-bc-green-mla

While some might be edible, if those greenies smelled some of those bears, even they might change their tune!

Maybe we should roll some of them in rotting salmon and turn them loose on Kodiak or the Peninsula!

While I have no desire to eat or shoot a grizzly, I have no problem with anyone who does shoot a grizzly.
Its only making the entire hunting community look like trophy hunters to uneducated seed eating, anti-hunting buffoons who have a hate on for all hunters.
Take the meat and give it to the dog or someone else's dog.

Wouldn't leaving it in the woods accomplish the same thing. Feed a less fortunate animal. Perhaps a fox, a bird ect.

No.....

Fox and birds don't eat bear meat?

Won't bear meat make your dogs wormy?

Have you talked to your neighbors about feeding your bear to their dogs?

Should the hunter buy another freezer for this bear meat they'll be packing down the mountain to give to the dogs?

Should each hunter be followed to the kill site to make sure no meat is wasted?

You seem to have thought this through, and I would like to hear from someone with experience. Especially Canadians.

As my 5-year-old son inspected the eyes, lips, and nose of this freshly-killed bear, he inquired as to whether we would be keeping the meat. I lifted a paw near his face so he could whiff the odor of dead walrus that miles of moist tundra had failed to erase.

I went back to the kill site less than two weeks later to retrieve the shoulder blade which had been neatly drilled by the 45 caliber slug. There were only a couple of minor rib bone fragments and a raven feather or two to indicate any animal had ever been there…no stain in the tundra, nothing.

But my boys enjoy brown bear; we're just somewhat choosy about what we salvage. Nothing wrong with a berry-eating bear. Salmon or beach-kill bears are another matter.

I wonder if it wouldn't be good to look for all animals that have died (from any causes) and take the meat and give it to the dog or someone else's dog.

673 says leaving carcasses in the woods won't accomplish anything.

Sounds like another recipe for bear issues.

Yes wild animals eat bear meat....

If bear meat or any other meat gives your dogs worms then cook it for them, but I doubt it does....

I haven't talked to my neighbors about feeding bear meat to their dogs because I would be feeding it to my own dogs.....

Yes the hunter may have to buy another freezer, why not I do if I have an excess of meat....

Why follow the hunter to the kill site? If I shoot any other animal there are laws already in place so you have to take the meat. Many/most grizzlies are shot in the company of guide/outfitters.....There are fines and a moral obligation to take the meat of all game animals already, why not simply add a grizzly bear.

With your infantile response you seem to miss the point.
Its about shooting something as large as a grizzly bear and leaving the meat, which is in many peoples view, (hunters and yes fellow Canadians) wrong....
I hunt and your point of view is what we would call the (trophy hunter) mentality, and it is what BC resident hunters would like to get rid of as it makes us also look bad.

hey, dont eat it? dont shoot it, or at least take it off the mountain and utilize it in some way.

Starving a dog in order to make it hungry enough to eat bear meat doesn't really fall in line with good animal care IMO.

Sometimes it's edible, sometimes it's not. I would no more expect that a grizzly be eaten - though it can be possible- than I'd expect fox or wolverine carcasses be salvaged for edible meat. It makes a lot more sense to require the salvage of prairie dogs and ground squirrels for human consumption than any of the above anyway.

It seems certain canadians could eat skunk if required of them.

Will they have to start eating mice too?

I have no bear in this hunt, but it seems to me that you're doing a disservice to BC hunters by speaking for them as if you know their wishes.

What I don't understand is, if the meat is nauseating, how can it be considered "edible" in the fist place?

I'm all for enforcing laws on recovering the meat of animals that most people would eat, because wasting something that others would use is wrong. But if most people wouldn't eat it, that all goes out the window.

There are plenty of examples of animals that are hunted without the meat being consumed.

They can't force you to eat it. If this law is passed, then simply salvage the meat from the field and toss it in the dumpster once home.

The stink would probably bring in a bear

Exactly....
Also, some grizzlies might be pretty good eating as some people report, some are not suitable for even dogs.
If you want to leave the meat in the USA then its none of my business, but if you want to leave the meat in the bush then MOST hunters here in BC dont support you.
If you are required to take the meat then the outfitter will know whom to give it too.
Natives here dont support leaving the meat... and skunk has been eaten by trappers and their dogs/cats and nothing go's to waste, nor should it.

I have no bear in this hunt, but it seems to me that you're doing a disservice to BC hunters by speaking for them as if you know their wishes

Smokepole

Other hunters from BC are welcome to post here their point of view, its already been common knowledge here for along time what the resident hunters point of view is.
Its not just the non-hunting community, its the hunting community at large.

I hunt in the US but I don't pretend to speak for US hunters at large. If BC hunters feel as you say, why isn't it the law already. And why was it proposed by the green party and not BC hunters.

What Smokepole says Green Party is just trying to end the Grizz hunt. This is one step down the path they are trying to blaze. I'm a BC hunter and have no problem with the leaving of bear meat. I also don't hunt bear FYI.

I dont hunt bears and I have no problem with anyone who does, I could care less what the green party says or any other political party says, its not a political issue and I really dont understand what the problem is.
Take the meat if you shoot a grizzly, lol, its not a skunk or a mouse.

Of those 3, which have you eaten, and if not, why not?

I taught my son many things which he ignored, the one that seems to have stuck best is don't kill something unless you are going to eat it.

The darn guy wouldn't kill ground squirrels until they stripped a fruit tree in a single day, and he feels like rattlesnakes should be relocated or put on the BBQ. He doesn't like venison so wouldn't hunt deer until his kids told him they liked it.

I've never eaten grizzly but eating what you kill is basic hunting ethics. Coyotes, bobcats and ground squirrels that I've shot don't get eaten but I wish they were as tasty as quail so we wouldn't be wasting the meat.

so you don't practice what you preach either?


personally I don't care for bear meat. shot one old bruin in my life, likely won't shoot another. meat tasted like crap and the trophy thing isn't my bag.
however I realize there are those who do like trophy hunting. I choose not to participate.

it's called freedom, we used to have a lot more of it.

None... The reason is I have never killed a grizzly nor skunk, I have killed a mouse and didn't feel bad about it.
Considering that it takes years for a resident hunter to get drawn for a grizzly, common sense would suggest that its not a common experience to kill a grizzly unless you were a guide/outfitter, this is the only hunting community that would be ruffled about the potential new law.
If it makes you feel better,,,, I will take you on a guided hunt for mouse, if/when you get one we can leave the meat for the birds, it will be a tough hunt as were not allowed to bait here.

On that note, I'm out of here.

I have always felt it would be a good idea to take the CO to the carcass, have him point out the edible portions, then give it to him. I'll pack it out but he can eat it.
In all seriousness, I think a mountain grizzly would be pretty good eating. However, trichinosis is always a concern, especially in a mountain bear, so treat it accordingly. I know a lot of people who prefer grizzly to black bear for which the same cautions apply. Likewise, if you eat marmot, cook it well and avoid eating the entrails (most will have no problem following these instructions). GD

Always wondered why I never read of getting grizzly meat out and have been disturbed by the waste. Really dont like any hunting for the sole purpose of a trophy to brag about. It cheapens the whole deal. However I dont like baiting, tree stands... but as long as you do not break the law or harm someone, it is not my business. Heck I am in a different country and will probably never hunt your bear. None of this is my business.

Think again!

Just leave it the way it is. If the meat looks good take it out, if not leave it. IT should be your call not the rat politicians and tree huggers.

"Should Canibalism be grounds for leniency in murder, as it is less wasteful?"

A question of compelling logic. Let's hope these legislators do not read "Calvin and Hobbes".

Jordan smith
Too quote a few words out of context does not make for a dialogue.
It is not an election year, the green party has 1 seat...if the NDP get elected then you can forget ALL grizzly hunting because they have already promised that.
This is quite simple...hunters are not in agreement with taking only the hide from such a animal, they are concerned with how that is perceived by the general public, and are distancing themselves from the (trophy hunting perception) and they are guided by their own moral culture.
As I said earlier the only hunters who are in a static over this proposed law are the guiding community, and thats why I dont understand what the big deal is.

That's exactly my point! Grizzly hunting very much IS a political issue. Keep in mind that an elephant is eaten one little bite at a time. I'm vehemently opposed to this law, and I'm not currently a guide or outfitter. I'm opposed for one reason- I don't want to see the "elephant" of hunting end up being nothing more than a pile of bones picked clean by the vultures in a couple of decades! I have no personal opportunity to hunt grizzly in BC, but I DO have the opportunity to stand up for maintaining our freedoms, and the integrity of personal choice in our country, and judgement-based decisions when out in the field. These are things that the NDP, Green Party, and many others that are opposed to hunting would take from us in a heart beat, if possible, and they are trying to do so one little bite at a time.

I understand your point...What do you say when resident hunters also want the meat packed out?

They are free to do so if they wish. But if they shoot one, find that the meat is totally inedible, they should have the freedom to make that judgement call and leave the meat for other wild animals to eat.

How would a hunter know if the meat was inedible?
I have shot rutting mule deer that were unedible, I'll gladly have you over here to bc and I'll make you a mule deer steak on the barbi and if you can eat it all then your a better man than me, I'll buy the beer.
I have hunted grizzly before, my buddies hunt and kill them too, and at least they take some of the meat, backstraps etc

Exactly.

This may have been mentioned but I saw a show on the food network where at least one Russian Chalet Type restaurant they were featuring served brown bear burgers...

Seems like a lot of judgment in this here thread by some who probably never spent time in brown bear country or have seen what a high bear population will do to moose calves.

Last browny I shot, I was determined to be "ethical" and salvage meat with the hide and skull. First cut I made nicked the gut and a ball of tapeworms the size of a softball came rolling out at my feet. That carcass fed the birds and scavengers. Curious how many of you guys would take that meat home and feed it to you families? Or your dogs? I did save at least a couple moose calves so I could more likely put some moose meat in my freezer the next year.

That explains why they're always pounding down the shots of vodka......

If you've ate or fed your family any wild game there were parasites in the carcass. I've cleaned more than a few rabbits that had tape worms.

There are parasites in many game animals, especially bears, and black bears probably kill just as many newborn ungulates as do grizzlies.
Nobodys saying dont kill grizzlies, in fact in bc we need to kill alot more black bears and keep knocking down grizzlies.

New bill

https://www.leg.bc.ca/40th4th/1st_read/m208-1.htm

I'll hang the salmon that have a few in the gut cavity; many do. But the ones which have tapeworms in their flesh, usually along with a pus-y pocket accompanying, get a fee pass to starfish heaven.

Did I mention the smell?

Smell is always a clue, even with generally 'edible' animals. I've generally taken some bear meat. But I have never had any qualms about leaving it all either - and my ethic has long included the idea than some would be eaten. But I don't have any inclination to freshly recycle well-aged beach kills or rank salmon. As I stated earlier in this thread, one carcass we left in it's entirety but for the head and hide...was completely cleaned up...gone, in less than 2 weeks.

I've seen spring brown bear carcasses cleaned to the bone in 48 hours. Early in the year there just isn't a lot to eat and the birds simply devour them.

Thats not the point....
If there is a trouble bear shot and killed, no problem, if a bear is killed on a guided hunt then take out the edible portions.
The grizzlies in the interior of bc aren't eating salmon on a regular basis.

Doesn't matter where they live, all bears seem to thrive on carrion when they can find it, blacks perhaps less so.. I don't know. It was obvious something bigger than birds or even foxes which hauled virtually every bone from the site of the bear kill I mentioned.

I have no problem with eating edible bears, but many of the bears hunted aren't what would generally be considered edible, that's the point. (The more probable edible ones are not the ones being targeted FWIW.) There are plenty of rutting caribou getting killed that truly can't be eaten if you need a cause. The antlers and perhaps the capes are are all that gets used there. (Yes, I know the meat must be removed from the field, but I doubt that even many ravens benefit when it ends up in the landfills.)

I get the impression you don't grasp the magnitude of this bill. Telling an outfitter that he has to retrieve the meat from a back country grizzly poses little problem for him. Extra manpower available, horses, planes, etc....

A BC resident hunter who is held to that requirement is in an entirely different situation. This effectively will further REDUCE resident opportunity.....

This is TRUE and we BC people MUST be VERY cautious about "quick fix" solutions to our current contratemps in all aspects of our environmental management.

To require a resident to remove wormy bear meat to his/her home WILL curtail the hunting of bears and we should be killing many more of them due to the over-abundance of both species in BC.

I favour a simple, rock-solid legislative solution to the entire allocation/access situation. EVERY BC person, that is Canadian citizen who resides here, gets exactly the same rights in hunting, etc. Then, the aboriginals, who play the political game to get more can use ONLY their traditional tools to hunt and all foreigners can be allowed FIVE percent in total.

NO foreign hunting at all wherever and whenever there is a LEH restriction and NO special rights for anyone.

A sensible answer klikitarik
trouble is can anyone honestly judge whether the meat is edible, what about the slob hunters that just dont want the meat?

kodiakhunter
A BC resident hunter who is held to that requirement is in an entirely different situation. This effectively will further REDUCE resident opportunity.....

Nonsense
Anyone who hunts grizzlies are well prepared to take out the EDIBLE PORTIONS just as they are when hunting any other animal.
I do think I grasp the magnitude of the proposed bill, and its miniscule.
I dont hunt bears as they dont appeal to me, however if I shot a bear of whatever species I would give the meat to someone who will eat it, or I wont shoot it unless I have to.

Some of you guys think you are protecting your hunting privilages, I think that if you take the meat out then the anti's have nothing left to cry about, they cant call you a trophy hunter if you take the meat of any game animal.....
If your only after the hide, horns,antlers and leave the meat you are a trophy hunter, plain and simple.

kutenay
Some of your drival I have to agree with,
but no foreign hunting? really? are you willing to put a whole lot of bc people out of work?
No indian hunting too? why? so that you and your pals who are foreigners can hunt instead?
Political game?, look who's talking,, pot meet kettle....
If I were allowed to use traditional methods to hunt you would be blowing chunks because of the brutality of some of the traditional hunting methods.

Laffin'!

I suggest trying to read and understand what I actually said, however, given your complete misunderstanding of my comments, I doubt that is possible.

Nope, this statement clearly indicates that you do not understand the situation at all.

This bill will definitely increase pressure on the areas that are physically easier for a resident to remove 4 quarters and loins from a dead grizzly, as well as hide and skull. It will absolutely significantly reduce resident opportunity in areas where access is difficult without additional support. This will have zero effect on a guide outfitter, other than it being a minor inconvenience. How is reducing resident hunter opportunity a good thing?

This will potentially increase the risk of bear attacks on resident hunters as well, for those of us still tough enough or stubborn enough to hunt in hard to access places. After backpacking up a snowed in valley, and up an alder choked slide to kill a big bear, then skin him out and backpack his hide and skull out 10km through rotten snow, not many guys are going to be able to turn around and go BACK to a kill site that has been reeking of blood and meat for hours on end, to hump out 100lbs of bear meat. And then do it again.

I can almost guarantee that every grizzly hunter in the province for the last however many number of years you'd like, did not go out with the specific intent of killing a grizzly for meat. Some guys like it, and utilize SOME of it, and that has been their choice. More power to them.

But make no mistake about it, grizzlies have always been a "trophy" hunt. And you know what? Meat is not the only acceptable reason to hunt. Everyone hunts for their own highly personal reasons. If meat is yours, that's great. But that may not be MY reason. And I'm not going to insult YOU for meat being your reason.

This is the first step to losing our heritage in BC...The sooner resident hunters wake up and see this, the better. How long until trappers have to also utilize furbearer meat for human consumption? How long until we have to utilize meat from coyotes and wolves? Ground squirrels? Flies? Mosquitoes? After all, in your mind the only acceptable reason to kill something is to eat it, where does that stop?

Exactly.


And to respond to 673 about the slob hunter comment:

Slob hunters who don't want the meat will just throw it in the trash once they get the hide and skull home.

Dave, the animosity between you and I notwithstanding, I sincerely congratulate you on that post, one of the finest comments on hunting on any forum that I have yet read.

One point, the Grizzly attacks on hunters and others, are often happening in places close to or in towns, the one at Fernie, last year was a place I knew well when I joined the BCFS 50 years ago next month.

The bugg*rs, often come right into Nelson, in areas built up 110 years ago and the old "Great Northern" right of way from Troop Junction to the US border, now a hiking trail for Yuppies and Yuppy puppies, is often closed due to so many foraging for early forbs and winter carrion.

That said, I think that you have "hit the nail", etc.

Damn...I hate to cause alarm, but this is undoubtedly time to stock up on bottled water and canned goods. The Apocalypse must be upon us when Dewey and I agree on something....

All kidding aside Dewey, I simply cannot understand why so many on HBC are applauding this bill, why it has support from ANY hunter in British Columbia. Are so many that short sighted? This is like trying to reason with a mugger when he sees the Rolex on your wrist as you are fishing out your wallet that he has requested...."But, but, I gave you my wallet! Why do you want my watch too?!?!?! I gave you my wallet!"

If this bill comes to pass, it will be a sad day in this province.

It's also a lot like the Liberal/NDP agenda for gun control. They are subtle and sly, and start with baby steps that even the left end of the hunting and gun owning community will applaud as common sense, saying "well sure, why do we need to own handguns, anyway? They are only used for robbing banks." Or "well sure, why shouldn't we have to use all meat from every animal killed, it's common sense." The problem is that it's not common sense. Using meat from an animal killed is only one reason for hunting. Many people shoot gophers, coyotes, magpies, crows, and other animals without any intention to use the meat, and do it for other purposes. Though the facade of "common sense" does make sense to those who laud governments that feverishly claw their way at gaining control over our individual lives.

Next thing you know, they are going to try and require hunters to use all the meat from cougars, wolves, and badgers, too...

Just curious- what do you do with that mule deer meat that is inedible? Here in AB the law already requires that no wild meat harvested from an ungulate be wasted, and I imagine BC is the same. So if you don't eat every bite, you are not technically obeying the law. Do you really want another law with the same intent for grizzly?

Snap, Kodiakhntr, Jordan, and like minded folks, you guys get it

Thanks...

KodiakHntr;
Good morning to you Dave - it's great to see you posting again and I hope this finds you and yours doing well.

As Dewey stated, that is a very eloquent post sir and there's nothing I'd add or take away.

On another BC forum I'm on there's a push for us as BC hunters to take the "I hunt for food only" stance and while that appears to be reasonable initially, as you mentioned there are exceptions to it.

My goodness I hope they don't start expecting me to eat the coyotes we call in Dave....

As an extension to greydog's post, I might even cook the coyote for the CO - outside of course....

Do you think the BBQ would ever be the same afterward?

Seriously though Dave that was a grand post and I couldn't have said it better or differently.

All the best to you all this spring.

Dwayne

Good morning Dwayne, and thank you and Dewey both for the kind words.

I'm sad that things have taken the turn it has on the other board. Hunters against hunters merely means we will all lose.

I hope you and yours are enjoying what I hear is fine weather down there Dwayne.

All the best,
Dave