Ken Pugh shoots bears 香蕉视频直播� with a camera.

The Chilliwack photographer, who is in favour of the province香蕉视频直播檚 recent announcement to end grizzly bear trophy hunting by the end of November, thinks communities and businesses can still make a profit despite the projected drop in hunters and revenue that comes with them.

The B.C. government is . Pugh says the announcement was a long time coming.

香蕉视频直播淕rizzlies are a magnificent animal to observe and photograph. One grizzly can be admired by many, year after year. Shooting it with a gun hardly matches that experience,香蕉视频直播� he says.

Last year, Pugh took a group of nine photographers (including himself) up to Bella Coola for a five-day guided grizzly bear photo shoot. They香蕉视频直播檒l be returning again this year in mid-September.

The workshop, called Dances with Grizzlies, is through his business Ken Pugh Photography. Last year, the small group spent about $600 each in the tiny Central Coast community.

香蕉视频直播淭his is just one group going up there and spending $5,000,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 accommodation, food, river guides, and gas. That香蕉视频直播檚 what we put into the economy.香蕉视频直播�

He香蕉视频直播檚 suggesting communities in bear country switch their focus from hunting to guided wildlife photo shoots and bear-viewing tours instead. With people heading to places like Bella Coola to take in the grizzlies for viewing or photographing, Pugh believes these bear communities can still make money, especially with the bear population expected to increase.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I take a group and we photograph grizzlies at Bella Coola, those grizzlies are still there the next year. In fact they香蕉视频直播檝e multiplied because they have been allowed to live to have young ones,香蕉视频直播� he says.

Forests Minister Doug Donaldson said it will take one or more hunting seasons to see how many fewer bears are killed once trophy hunters opt out of a system that allows them to take the meat but not the head, paws or hide of the bear.

The ministry estimates that 250 grizzlies are killed by hunters each year, with 80 of those shot by non-resident hunters participating in a lottery draw for grizzly hunting tags.

Revenue to the province from the grizzly bear hunt is estimated at $540,000 a year, with communities in hunting areas also benefiting from the spending of hunters, particularly from the out-of-province hunters.

Pugh says the money his group spends is 香蕉视频直播渟hared amongst the restaurants, hotels, guides, and stores香蕉视频直播� as opposed to paying a guide to take you out to shoot a bear [with a gun] and you香蕉视频直播檙e paying one guide lodge. Ours is spread out amongst the economy more.香蕉视频直播�

When dining in the restaurants in Bella Coola, Pugh香蕉视频直播檚 group chatted with the locals who were very happy to see them, informing them of the best places to find and photograph bears.

香蕉视频直播淚t was the most friendliest place. The hospitality was just unreal from everyone. We didn香蕉视频直播檛 have a single negative or grumpy person, it was all smiles and 香蕉视频直播榟ow are you?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� he says.

But some businesses may need to make a few changes to accommodate photographers.

香蕉视频直播淸Bella Coola] hasn香蕉视频直播檛 really discovered the potential of this yet, even though there are bear-watching and bear-viewing businesses in the area,香蕉视频直播� he says.

Photographers are already out shooting early in the morning and late in the evening due to the beautiful light.

香蕉视频直播淲e go by the light and the activity of the day 香蕉视频直播� 7 a.m. and in the evening is the hot time. Photographers, we want the morning light for the scenics,香蕉视频直播� he says.

None of the restaurants open before 7 a.m., and Pugh thinks if they open earlier, they香蕉视频直播檇 get a lot more business and the hunters would soon be replaced with photographers.

Though currently there香蕉视频直播檚 a lottery for out-of-province hunters to get a licence to shoot grizzlies, Pugh can see that coming into effect for those with cameras as photographing grizzlies becomes more popular. Photographers are more likely to head to an area where there are no hunters, he adds.

香蕉视频直播淚 can see, some years down the road, that there will need to be a lottery to do what we do,香蕉视频直播� says Pugh.

~ with files from Tom Fletcher

jenna.hauck@theprogress.com
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