Mass opposition to trophy hunting in B.C. and Alta., poll finds

A new survey has found the B.C. and Alberta governments at odds with the vast majority of residents when it comes to the issue of trophy hunting.

While both provinces condone hunting for sport, the Insights West poll found 91 per cent of British Columbians and 84 per cent of Albertans condemn the practice.

Support for trophy hunting was minimal even in rural areas, according to pollsters.

Despite the overwhelming opposition, B.C. Premier Christy Clark defended trophy hunting on Monday as an economic boost to some smaller communities.

“I think we should remember lots of families depend on that as part of their business to create jobs,” Clark said.

“As long as it’s done on a scientific basis, as long as it’s done humanely and carefully, it’s something we have space to do in the province.”

Just because trophy hunting is unpopular don’t like it doesn’t make it wrong, Clark added.

Insights West found similarly widespread opposition in both provinces to the controversial practice of killing animals for fur.

Support was much higher for hunting for food, however; 73 per cent of B.C. respondents and 81 per cent of Alberta respondents said they’re in favour.

“For British Columbians and Albertans, there is a clear distinction between hunting for food and hunting for sport,” pollster Mario Canseco said in a release.

The provinces became more divided on issues of animal captivity and rodeos.

Sixty-two per cent of B.C. respondents opposed the use of animals in rodeos, compared to 39 per cent in Alberta.

Nearly half of the people polled in British Columbia also disagreed with putting animals in zoos or aquariums, while just 34 per cent of Albertans did.

The online poll was conducted from Sept. 18 to 21 among 1,003 adult British Columbians and 590 adult Albertans, and the results were statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region.

It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points in B.C. and plus or minus 4.1 percentage points in Alberta.

With files from CTV Vancouver’s Kent Molgat

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  Disturbing video of a grizzly bear hunt was released by the Wildlife Defence League in September as part of its anti-trophy hunting campaign. (Facebook)