Updates from Jesse Zeman
Jesse Zeman remembers Chuck Zuckerman. He discusses a number of recent successes: a new DFO paper finding acknowledging issues inside DFO related to following the science, a new watershed security fund, and an increase in fishing license fees dedicated to conservation and angling opportunities.
He asks you to purchase 50/50 tickets, register for upcoming webinars, sign up for BOW, come see us at the BC Outdoors Show, and attend the AGM & Convention.
Jesse also encourages you to continue advocating against Bill C-21 and engaging with your elected officials on issues that matter to you, and continue supporting the BCWF because the work we are doing is making a big difference in the perception of hunters, anglers, and firearms owners.

 
BOW: Prince George
The first BOW weekend of the year takes place Friday, May 12, to Sunday, May 14 at Ness Lake Bible Camp, Prince George!
BOW is an all-inclusive weekend getaway just for women where you can hone your outdoor skills, try something new, and have a blast! BOW offers hands-on outdoor recreation courses related to outdoor survival, fishing, foraging, hunting, shooting, nature art, and more!.
Register early, as programs are first-come, first-served!

 
Go Wild Returning to Peachland!
We are so excited to be bringing Go Wild back the beautiful Silver Lake Camp in Peachland this summer! Taking place from July 19 to 27, Go Wild is a 9-day overnight summer camp geared towards youth aged 12-17 who are interested in conservation, leadership, and the outdoors. The program includes leadership activities, archery, outdoor survival skills, multiple conservation projects, a range day, a 3-day backpacking trip and so much more!
Registration is now open, so take advantage of our early bird rates and member discounts today!

 
BCWF applauds increase in angling fees directed to conservation
For over ten years, we've been asking for an increase in angling fees to fund the conservation of B.C.'s freshwater fisheries, and today we're thrilled to see it happen!
Angling licenses will increase 9.9 per cent for the 2023-24 license year and an additional 4 per cent for the 2024-25 license year. These increases will direct additional funding to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, helping them continue to deliver conservation services and provide angling opportunities.

 
Conservation Webinar
On March 22, at 7:00 pm, Siobhan Darlington (UBC Okanagan, Southern BC Cougar Project) will present her research on spatial and seasonal variation in cougar prey choice in the southern interior of B.C.
In southern BC, cougars are the main proximate source of mortality for declining mule deer and bighorn sheep populations. The objectives of this study were to compare habitat characteristics at cougar kill sites across seasons and quantify prey in their diet. The study deployed 48 GPS collars on adult cougars across three study areas.

 
BCWF Board of Director Elections
Are you or someone you know looking for an opportunity to make an impact on the future of hunting, fishing, shooting disciplines, and conservation for generations to come? We are looking for dedicated, motivated, enthusiastic individuals looking to join our team.
Submit a nomination by completing our online form by April 3, 2023. After this date nominations will be taken only during the AGM proceedings during the “Call for Nominations”.
Our AGM will be held on April 20-22, 2023 at which time we will be holding our elections for the BCWF Board of Directors.

 
2022-23 Young Conservationist Scholarship Program Winners
We are excited to announce Tanya as the winner of the 2022-2023 Young Conservationist Scholarship Program and recipient of a $1,500 scholarship! During the program, Tanya adopted a rain garden at a local elementary school to educate children about the importance of green spaces. Tanya plans to transfer the adoption of the rain garden to the student’s parents at the school where they can continue to care for the rain garden.
The runner-up and recipient of a $500 scholarship is Prabhnoor, who created a local awareness initiative in her community about invasive species. She also created a donation campaign for the Osoyoos Desert Centre, where she gifted donors a native plants donated in-kind from a local greenhouse to further maintain native biodiversity in her community,　
Know a youth conservationist who would make a big impact like Tanya and Prabhnoor? We are currently accepting applicants for the Young Conservationist Scholarship Program for youth between grade 7 and 11.

 
Conservation Webinar
The next installment of our conservation webinar series takes place March 22nd, 7:00 pm.
Siobhan Darlington, (UBC Okanagan | Southern BC Cougar Project), will present her research on spatial and seasonal variation in cougar prey choice in the southern interior of B.C.
In southern British Columbia, cougars are the main proximate source of mortality for declining mule deer and bighorn sheep populations. The objectives of this study were to compare habitat characteristics at cougar kill sites across seasons and quantify prey in their diet.
The study deployed 48 GPS collars on adult cougars across three study areas along the international boundary in southern B.C.

 
Emma Kingsland Nominated for SFU Changemaker Award:
The BCWF's very own Emma Kingsland has been nominated for a Changemaker Award by SFU Faculty of Environment! Emma joined the BCWF in 2018 and works as our Conservation Stewardship Assistant.
She is being recognized for her fantastic dedication to conservation, especially through the Year of the Salish Sea project, which seeks to bring together local First Nations, municipalities, organizations, and individuals in the Salish Sea ecosystem region to collectively work towards an improvement in health and management of the Salish Sea.
Voting is open to the public until March 5th. 

 
March Events
We will be attending several great events this month - we hope to see you there!
B.C. Sportsmen's Show in Abbotsford, March 3-5. BCWF members can save $4.00 off regular-priced tickets! Enter the Promo Code BCWF23 and the discount is applied during checkout.
Fraser Valley Women's Expo in Chilliwack, March 3-5. Come meet our team and learn about our exciting women's programmes for 2023.
Vancouver Giants Outdoors Night in Langley, March 12. Enjoy a great afternoon of hockey (Giants vs. Prince George Cougars) an meet some of our outdoors and conservation-minded partners
BC Outdoors Show in Chilliwack, March 24-26. We will have a booth and a youth activites area at the show - stop by to learn how you can support wildlife and conservation in B.C.

 
BCWF Saltues Doug Forsdick
The B.C. Wildlife Federation salutes Chief Conservation Officer Doug Forsdick for a lifetime of public service. Doug has retired from service after 35 years from his current position as the Executive Lead at the Compliance and Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
“In a time where conservation is often a political afterthought, Chief Forsdick has been a staunch defender of fish, wildlife, habitat and the public interest,” said BCWF Executive Director Jesse Zeman. “Chief Forsdick has supported BCWF initiatives including the BCWF Conservation App, when others tried to derail it." 
Doug has attended our conventions and engaged our clubs and members to work collaboratively to secure a brighter future for fish, wildlife, and habitat. The BCWF wishes Doug a happy retirement and hopes he spends some time enjoying what he spent his career trying to protect.

 
Don't miss the chance to apply for a BCWF internship!　
Spending the summer with BCWF not only gives our interns the chance to make a big impact on B.C.'s fish, wildlife, and habitat, but also gives them the opportunity to begin their professional journey by integrating them with a team of leading conservation professionals. 

 
B.C. Feral Pigs Workshop　
The first B.C. Feral Pig Workshop was co-hosted by the B.C. Wildlife Federation (BCWF), the Province of B.C., and the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) at the end of February 2023 in New Westminster. The support of the Province of B.C. in making this event a success is greatly appreciated! Mark Hall, representing the BCWF, and Gail Wallin, executive director of the ISCBC, moderated the sessions. The workshop was attended by representatives from several First Nations groups, stakeholders, and the B.C. government.

 
BCWF Updates from Jesse Zeman
Jesse announces registration for our AGM & Convention opening this week!
He encourages members who know youth interested in conservation to apply for our summer youth internships. He discusses sea lice, elk, and upcoming webinars.
Finally, he asks you to act on Bill C-21 because there is a lot happening behind the scenes, and he is concerned that similar amendments will resurface.

 
Conservation Webinar Series
Concerned about the future of moose?
Nicole Boucher (University of Victoria) presents research into moose calf survival in relation to habitat selection and body condition, as well as that of their mothers, in interior British Columbia.
This research seeks to understand how variation in use of anthropogenically disturbed landscapes contributes to moose population declines across the province.
Time: February 22, 2023, 7:00 PM  PST

 
Feral Pigs Workshop
On behalf of the BCWF, Province of B.C., and the Invasive Species Council of BC, we are hosting a Feral Pig Workshop on February 27th, 2023 in New Westminster.  Please join us to find out more about why taking action to prevent the establishment of feral pigs in B.C. is important and what is already underway.
 
The Feral Pig Forum is part of the Invasive Species Forum week. You can find an agenda for the workshop here, and a primer for taking action against invasive wild pigs here. 

 
Summer Internships Now Open!
This summer, share your passion for the outdoors with a BCWF Internship!
Join a team of passionate conservationists and make a difference for the future of B.C.'s fish, wildlife and habitat.
Applications are now open for all seasonal summer positions, with opportunties available across all departments.

 
Restoration Update: Nʔaʕx̌ʷt
Thanks to the Southern Interior Land Trust for sharing progress pictures of Nʔaʕx̌ʷt, also known as Ginty’s Pond in Cawston, B.C.
The BCWF has been working collaboratively with the Southern Interior Land Trust, Lower Similkameen Indian Band, and Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, to restore this ecosystem and bring open water back to this unique oxbow wetland. We can't wait to see this site come to life this spring!

 
B.C. Announces New Measures to Protect Forests
The changes announced by the province line up well with changes that the B.C. Wildlife Federation and our coalition members have advocated for for years.  In particular, removing the "not unduly" clause in the Forest and Range Practices Act, which placed logging above fish, wildlife and habitat, is a major win.  The B.C. Wildlife Federation is committed to working with First Nations, the province, our coalition members and the forest industry to move towards more sustainable forest management to help restore fish, wildlife and habitat. 

 
Get Ready for Summer Camps!
We are excited to announce that BCWF will be coming to Surrey, Invermere, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, and Peachland this summer for BCWF camps!
Registration will officially open on Friday, March 3rd, 2023 for all Wild Kidz day camps and the Go Wild 9-day overnight camp.
Learn more by visiting our website!

 
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
Don't make plans for May 12-14 or June 2-4, because you'll want them reserved for BOW!
BOW is an all-inclusive weekend getaway that offers outdoor recreation courses, like fishing, hunting and shooting, just for women. BOW includes accommodations, meals and equipment for the courses.
BOW 2023 kicks off in Prince George on May 12-14 at Ness Lake Bible Camp, followed closely by Lake Country June 2-4 at Camp Winfield! Email programs@bcwf.bc.ca to be the first to know when registration opens!

 
Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program
Pat Kelly has been fishing Kootenay Lake since he was a child and up until now the reward for a good day on the water has always been a delicious trout dinner. That changed this week when the Calgary resident won two $500 gift certificates.
Kelly entered the heads from 55 bull and rainbow trout in January, the bounty from his past two months of fishing. “I never win anything, but I got the call and I thought, ‘Wow, it can actually happen,’” he said. “There’s still a truck to win, so for the next few months I’ll be trying a bit harder.”

 
B.C. Sportsmen's Show
The BCWF will be attending the B.C. Sportsmen's Show in Abbotsford, March 3-5, 2023! We hope to see many of our members there!
They have arranged an exclusive discount to BCWF members that will save you $4.00 off regular-priced tickets!
To apply your discount, use the link provided below, and enter the Promo Code BCWF23. The $4.00 discount is applied during checkout.

 
BCWF members awaiting PAL/RPAL renewals
Many of you report being frustrated by long waits for your PAL/RPAL renewals.
There is currently no way for the RCMP online PAL/RPAL renewal processes to capture that the individual is still a valid member of a gun club for target shooting. This is required to satisfy the legislation which requires the CFO to confirm that that individuals who possess restricted firearms, still holds them for one of the ‘lawful purposes’ including target shooting. 
Therefore, to assist any of our members who have outstanding renewal applications; I suggest that you email the CFO BC/YT at BCYTCFP@rcmp-grc.gc.ca, provide your application number, and provide a copy of your membership to your gun club. The ‘subject’ line of the email should read: Renewal Application# 0012345678 – Confirmation of Purpose Attached.
This should help to move things along and will avoid potential phone tag and request for info via mails.
Douglas Bancroft
Chair - Recreational Shooting Sports Committee

 
BC Moose Winter Tick Surveillance Program
We are requesting your participation in the 2023 Moose Winter Tick Surveillance Program. It's important for citizens to report sightings of healthy and affected moose to provide an accurate picture of how ticks are impacting the moose population.
For detailed information, photos of what to look for, and instructions on how to participate, please visit the North Peace Rod and Gun Club's website.

 
Are you the next Young Conservationist?
Applications for this year’s Young Conservationist Scholarship Program cohort open tomorrow, January 20th! B.C youth who are passionate about protecting, enhancing, and restoring their local environment, and are interested in gaining practical skills to do so should apply! Successful applicants will develop and execute their own conservation project with the support of BCWF staff.
Participants present their final project to our judges panel, where one will be selected to win a $1,000 scholarship! For more information, visit our website.

 
Join the Youth Team!
The BCWF Youth Program is looking for three new Youth Educators to join our team in the spring! The successful candidates will implement educational programming across the province for youth programs Gently Down the Seymour, Wild Kidz, Go Wild, and the National Archery in the School Program. If you are passionate about inspiring the next generation of conservationists and engaging youth in educational programming, this is the position for you!
Visit our website to learn more about the role and apply today. Good luck!

 
Argenta Man Reels in Dozens of Kootenay Lake Trout, Wins $1000
Congratulations to Carl Johnson, the most recent winner of the Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program's monthly prize draw. The program is a citizen-driven initiative intended to reduce the over-abundance of rainbow and bull trout in the lake and promote the recovery of their main prey, the endangered kokanee salmon.
“The prize is just a nice bonus, like, welcome to the New Year,” says Carl. “Eventually I’d like to get back to catching kokanee, but for now we have to let them all go.”

 
New PAL Card Design
The RCMP has announced a new design and enhanced security features for PAL cards issued starting January 2023. Your current PAL card is valid until it expires.
Learn more about the new PAL cards and what to expect here.