Ken Pugh shoots bears 91裸聊视频� with a camera.

The Chilliwack photographer, who is in favour of the province91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淕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,91裸聊视频� 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. They91裸聊视频檒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.

91裸聊视频淭his is just one group going up there and spending $5,000,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 accommodation, food, river guides, and gas. That91裸聊视频檚 what we put into the economy.91裸聊视频�

He91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淲hen I take a group and we photograph grizzlies at Bella Coola, those grizzlies are still there the next year. In fact they91裸聊视频檝e multiplied because they have been allowed to live to have young ones,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渟hared amongst the restaurants, hotels, guides, and stores91裸聊视频� as opposed to paying a guide to take you out to shoot a bear [with a gun] and you91裸聊视频檙e paying one guide lodge. Ours is spread out amongst the economy more.91裸聊视频�

When dining in the restaurants in Bella Coola, Pugh91裸聊视频檚 group chatted with the locals who were very happy to see them, informing them of the best places to find and photograph bears.

91裸聊视频淚t was the most friendliest place. The hospitality was just unreal from everyone. We didn91裸聊视频檛 have a single negative or grumpy person, it was all smiles and 91裸聊视频榟ow are you?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he says.

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

91裸聊视频淸Bella Coola] hasn91裸聊视频檛 really discovered the potential of this yet, even though there are bear-watching and bear-viewing businesses in the area,91裸聊视频� he says.

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

91裸聊视频淲e go by the light and the activity of the day 91裸聊视频� 7 a.m. and in the evening is the hot time. Photographers, we want the morning light for the scenics,91裸聊视频� he says.

None of the restaurants open before 7 a.m., and Pugh thinks if they open earlier, they91裸聊视频檇 get a lot more business and the hunters would soon be replaced with photographers.

Though currently there91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 can see, some years down the road, that there will need to be a lottery to do what we do,91裸聊视频� says Pugh.

~ with files from Tom Fletcher

jenna.hauck@theprogress.com
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