BC ending trophy hunt

Photo: Canadian Press

The B.C. government is putting an end to the grizzly bear trophy hunt. 

Starting Nov. 30, the province will end grizzly bear trophy hunting and will stop all hunting of grizzlies in the Great Bear Rainforest, Rural Development Minister Doug Donaldson announced Monday.

"By bringing trophy hunting of grizzlies to an end, we're delivering on our commitment to British Columbians," Donaldson said. "This action is supported by the vast majority of people across our province.

"In particular, we owe it to generations past and future to do all we can to protect the beauty and uniqueness of the Great Bear Rainforest. We believe the action we're taking goes beyond the commitment to Coastal First Nations made as part of the 2016 Great Bear Rainforest agreements," he said. 

There are an estimated 15,000 grizzly bears in B.C. Each year, about 250 are killed by hunters. While the trophy hunt will end, hunting for meat will still be legal. 

In the fall, Donaldson said government will meet with First Nations and stakeholder groups to figure out next steps.

"The key elements of that strategy will include dedicated funding for wildlife and habitat conservation and a collaborative process in developing short- and long-term plans for wildlife resources," he said.