Photo: Castanet Staff

Hunters at previous rally outside Premier Christy Clark's West Kelowna office.

Camouflage-wearing hunters have set up camp at B.C.'s legislature in an attempt to shoot down new quotas for big game animals such as elk, bison, moose, big horn sheep and grizzly bears.

The howls of hunting dogs and squawking duck calls can be heard above the chatter of hundreds of hunters, who have gathering around a makeshift tent at the legislature.

Resident B.C. hunters say government harvest allocations for trophy animals favour guide outfitters and non-resident hunters, who often pay thousands of dollars to bag game animals in the province.

The province released quota numbers late last year that gave guide outfitters rights to 186 animals, but that number was reduced to 60 after resident hunters objected.

However, the protesting hunters say the revised quota is still too high.

A petition that's expected to be tabled in the legislature was signed by 16,000 B.C. hunting supporters who are calling on the government to rescind the new policy.

Many of the hunters at the protests are packing anti-government placards, including ones that say, Hands Off My Meat and Resident Hunters First.