BC Conservation Officer Service Access Management Compliance and Enforcement Program (AMCEP) October/November Report Compiled by Conservation Officer Patricia Burley October 1-November 15, 2014 Galton AMA October 30, 2014 1 Introduction The October/November Access Management Compliance and Enforcement Program (AMCEP) Report is the fifth and final monthly report for the 6 month period for 2014 completed by Conservation Officer (CO) Burley. This is the third year that CO Burley has been the designated Access Guardian in the Elk Valley from May 15-Nov 15. The AMCEP was developed in 2009, but did not have a set contract until 2011 for a potential 5 year commitment. CO Burley’s priority focus is on the Access Management Areas (AMA’s) for the 6 month period within the Regional District of East Kootenay’s Electoral Area A. Currently, the AMCEP is the only Conservation Officer (CO) position in all of British Columbia. Thank you to the RDEK, Columbia Basin Trust, other stakeholder groups and the Communities of Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford for making the essential program a success. The following information is some highlights from the months of October and November. October and November had proven to be the busiest hunting season of CO Burley’s career. For Fernie, Elkford, Sparwood, Elko and Grasmere there was a total of 47 Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) violation complaints and an additional 20 files forwarded directly to the Fernie CO’s by cell or email. A total of 80 human wildlife conflict complaints were made through the RAPP line and many more were forwarded directly to the CO’s. During the busy fall hunting season the CO’s try to patrol AMA’s to make contact with backcountry users to ensure there is compliance with regards to the regulations. During October and November the CO’s were inundated with complaints where most of their time was spent with reactive responses, instead of proactive. CO Burley accumulated a large number of AMA complaints including a number of files that can be followed up during the winter season. CO Burley investigated a significant complaint that has resulted in search warrants and information for court procedures. The elk hunting season was when most of the illegal hunting in AMA’s took place (September to October). Some of the educational aspects that CO Burley has been delivering include topics such as Section 75 of the Wildlife Act which states that if a person kills or wounds wildlife, either accidentally or for protection of life or property, that person must promptly report the killing or wounding of the wildlife to an officer. Also, if a hunter makes a mistake and kills an animal that is not legal and reports himself, he is generally dealt with in a much less severe manner than the person who shoots an illegal animal and does not report it and is subsequently caught. To ensure that legitimate mistakes are treated as such, it is important that if an accident happens a call is made as soon as possible to the Conservation Officer Service (COS) in order to report the accidental killing of wildlife. Since the rifle season opened on September 10, the COS has investigated ten self-reported hunters who have shot five point bull elk. This is an illegal size; they have to be six point or greater or within certain regions spike bulls from September 10 to September 19. Although mistakes do happen, it is appreciated when hunters come forward and admit their honest 2 mistake. It is also a reminder to make sure you are 100 per cent sure of the animal’s size and species before pulling the trigger. It is not worth walking away from an animal because of being scared of the consequences. Too many animals are being shot and wasted. We are looking for the public’s assistance to report any further wildlife violations. The Fernie Rod and Gun Club would also like to remind the public that they will be offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to a conviction of wildlife infractions. One example where we are asking for help is on September 30 at 1830 a dark red older model pickup truck was pulled over on Highway 3 east of the Sparwood Transfer Station. The suspect, a male described to be in his mid-twenties to thirties, shot and killed a five point bull elk within the No Shooting area of the District of Sparwood (Figure 1 and 2). The suspect told people that he would self-report the illegal size elk to the COS. This individual never made the report to officials, meaning that the elk was wasted in the bush. If the suspect had brought the violation forward to the Report All Poachers and Polluters Hotline (RAPP) then the animal would have been used at the Salvation Army. If this individual or the public has further information on this violation and would like to come forward, they can by calling the RAPP number (1-877-952- 7277). Figure 1: Shot and left 5X5 bull elk within the District of Sparwood. 3 Figure 2: Location off Hwy 3 west of Sparwood where the 5X5 elk was shot. The following information describes illegal activity where other hunters have not come forward within the East Kootenay’s. September 27 – A five pt. bull elk was shot and left off the Bull River Forest Service Road onto the West Sulphur Rd at the three to four km mark. September 28 – A five pt. bull elk was shot and left off of the Big Sand Creek Rd. September 28 – The possible shooting and improper disposal of a white tail buck southwest of Grave Lake within Grave Prairie AMA. Between September 28 and October 2 — An adult sow grizzly bear was shot and killed beside a 7 pt. bull elk off of the Fording Hwy, northeast of Elkford. It is suspected that a hunter came across the grizzly and shot it in self-protection. Please come forward if this was you. October 2 – A white tail deer doe was shot and left near Beese Road in Hosmer. The deer was located in an area that looked to be hidden intentionally. October 6 – A mule deer doe was shot and left northeast of Elkford near Round Prairie. Late September – A five pt. bull elk was shot and left in the Lost Dog area. Late September – A five pt. bull elk was shot and left in the Premier Ridge area. Late September – A five pt. bull elk was shot and illegally taken from the LP Ranch Rd near Kimberley. There have been an additional ten self-reported illegal mule deer and elk files with another five shot and left. Alexander Creek AMA was patrolled during October. During one of the patrols CO Burley came across an illegal gun range that was being built in an unsafe location (Figure 3). The suspect was not only driving into a non-motorized portion of the AMA (Hydro line), but was also cutting live trees for their line of sight. Cutting live trees is illegal under the Forest Range and 4 Protection Act. This is an extremely dangerous area to target practice as the person would be shooting directly into the thick forest without a safe backdrop. CO Burley disassembled the targets and left a note for the suspect. It was noted for them to self-report themselves as they were in the non-motorized closure. This is an ongoing file. CO Burley did not encounter a large number of hunters within this AMA, but did observe tracks driving into the closed areas. The gate on Deadmans Pass will still be constructed by Canfor, along with new ATV ditches in the late spring of 2015. Figure 3: Alexander Creek AMA; view into treeline where someone built an illegal gun range. Three complaints were made to CO Burley in October regarding illegal motorized access within Weigert Creek AMA. This AMA is an ecologically sensitive area for wildlife. All types of wildlife live in this area, some of which rely heavily on the protection from human harassment of motorized vehicles. One area in particular that is seeing the abuse more than ever before is the west access trail. On the west access trail just past the sawdust pile/landing the open trail ends; it also intersects Weigert Creek (Figures 4 and 5). The signs at this location keep getting ripped down; volunteers have helped to post them high up and out of reach from other recreationists. A bridge was built across the creek last fall which ATV’s use to access the closed area into mountain goat terrain. There is no issue with the hunters and hikers that are walking in this area, but the people with ATV’s are not legally allowed to use the trail past the creek. Snowmobiles are exempted in the AMA during the winter, but not for hunting (East Kootenay – snowmobiles cannot be used for hunting). The bridge will be removed next season as it is not permitted with the appropriate government officials. 5 Figure 4 and 5: Photo’s submitted by the public, closed trail within Weigert Creek AMA. Figure 6: Weigert Creek AMA, view from a non-motorized landing (Lookout Trail in the clear cut). 6 A complaint was text messaged to CO Burley regarding two hunters on ATV’s that were witnessed driving up a closed road within Wigwam Flats AMA on October 10th. The witness said the group was camped within the area so she would most likely intersect the hunters. CO Burley responded to the complaint where she was able to meet the two hunters suspecting of driving up the closed road.