On December 9th, delegates from the GDRGC attended a meeting of the Member clubs of the East Kootenay Wildlife Association which included a discussion with the President and Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation.
The EKWA and the BCWF take our voice to regional and provincial tables to advocate for wildlife, habitats and hunters.
Being a member of the Golden District Rod and Gun Club means that you are also a member of the EKWA and the BCWF.
The Kicking Horse Canyon bighorn sheep have been getting hit by vehicles on the TransCanada highway for many years. In an attempt to mitigate these losses and maintain this herd, we have reluctantly implemented a diversionary feeding program that has been successful in reducing traffic-caused mortalities.
This feeding program is planned to continue until fencing along the highway is effective in keeping sheep off the highway. This activity has been permitted under the Provincial Wildlife Act.
We are currently looking for volunteers to participate in the feeding program. This involves transporting and spreading hay at the designated feeding station once a day for a week. If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to Brian@goldenrodandgun.com
Interested in the sheep? Follow them on Instagram at @kickinghorsebighorns
The GDRGC is committed to improving and maintaining Ungulate Winter Range (UWR) for deer, elk and sheep in the Golden area.
We manage forest operations in two woodlot parcels that overlap high-quality UWR. Our management focus is primarily on improving and maintaining habitat quality for mule and white-tailed deer.
The GDRGC is currently conducting enhancement work on the Vacation Creek Elk Winter Range project. This multi-year project aims to open forests to allow for forage growth and predator detection in critical winter habitats. This project has been funded by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, Columbia Basin Trust, the Habitat Conservation Trust and the Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia.
The club is also in the process of developing a bighorn sheep winter range enhancement project with the aim to restore habitats and keep sheep off the TransCanada where they are hit by passing vehicles. This project has been funded by the Columbia Basin Trust, the East Kootenay Wildlife Association and the GDRGC.
Ungulate winter range (UWR) is a critical element of survival for elk, deer, moose, sheep and goats. In general, UWR habitats are low-elevation south-facing areas where little snow accumulates and snow melts first in the spring. Around Golden, these habitats are quite close to town - valley bottom and the east side of the valley.
Dogs can chase deer or simply cause them to flee, expending energy at a time when energy/fat storage is critical for survival. Being continually disturbed or chased results in a depletion of fat stores and can contribute to miscarriages, predation, and starvation.
While a dog chasing a deer may not result in the direct killing of a deer, over time, indirect loss and in extreme cases, abandonment of critical habitat can occur. Uncontrolled dogs and excessive activity in UWR can have major impacts on ungulate populations. The availability of UWR is directly related to the number of animals that can survive in an area.
Moral of this story:
- Please control dogs in UWR and do not allow them to chase animals
- Avoid UWR for dog-friendly, off-leash recreation activities
- Use the west side of the valley to XC ski, fat bike and run with your dog
The Golden District Rod and Gun Club is home to one of the longest ranges in British Columbia. Our 40 hectare recreation shooting range facility hosts turkey shoots, black powder shoots, sporting clays shoots and family fishing days. We encourage hunting, fishing, and shooting among the residents of the Golden district with a view towards better knowledge of the safe use of firearms and conservation ethics.
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