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Unhappy with wildlife area control

I am a third-generation farmer in the Creston Valley. My father told me everything you need is in this valley...

To the Editor:

I am a third-generation farmer in the Creston Valley. My father told me everything you need is in this valley. Things were great for me until the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area was formed, as it was for my father and grandfather. You were able to hunt where you wanted. I believe it was called Crown land. Since the CVWMA was formed, things have continually been taken away from hunters and local people of the valley.

They closed vehicle access to the cross dike at Duck Lake. They also closed the loop around Duck Lake and blocked the access at the end of Farmin Road, a public road. We camp on land owned by Duck Lake Diking District.  We asked the president of the DLDD if it was OK with the district, and he said it was. We paid taxes on this property with two other couples. We all like the peace and quiet and enjoy the birds. We put up feeders for hummingbirds and other species. Wood ducks have even enjoyed these feeders. We are all there trying to get along with nature and enjoy our valley. Thanks to the CVWMA’s CEO, we are about to lose all this. This was done very rudely. We are not trespassing and taxes are paid until July 3.

They also closed access to Leach Lake and tore out the bridge to the Dewdney Trail. All this is taken away from the people of the valley by the CVWMA. Everything is being blamed on liability. My truck has liability insurance, but is not allowed on their roads. When you walk on the dike with no liability insurance, you’re allowed. It doesn’t make sense.

They funnel everyone into the Wildlife Interpretation Centre and pretend they really care about the wildlife. In my opinion, this is not true. They continually have people parading though the birds’ and animals’ habitat when they are trying to nest and have their young. The management area should be closed for April and May to allow the birds and animals to have their young in peace, instead of being consistently interrupted by bird watchers.

The CVWMA will not even allow you to feed the elk in Leach Lake area when the snow forces them off the mountain. They tell you to feed them in a farmer’s field. I thought this was why CVWMA was formed: to support wildlife and take away conflicts between people and animals so we can coexist together.

Ever since the interpretation centre was formed, they have been continually blundering and applying for more funding. It seems one part of the government doesn’t know what the other is doing. They knew there was knapweed seed in the gravel as my father told this to the department of highways in the eighties. They didn’t care and spread it all over the valley. Then they tell you to pull it out along your property. They should be pulling it. Is this good management?

My solution is to split the funding between the interpretation centre and CVWMA. From BC Hydro, the money given to them is supposed to be used to manage water levels for the birds in the CVWMA not used to run an interpretation centre. Change the name of CVWMA to heritage land and have the people own it. This way, everyone can enjoy it and not have to worry about liability insurance. I believe hunters and the public can get along, be it photographers, birdwatchers or anyone else.

My suggestions include closing the area to all in April and May to allow the wildlife to have their young in peace. Open the area to the public from June until March, with the provision the hunters have the right to use it from September to December. If people do not have a problem with hunting, they can also use the heritage land at this time. Some people enjoy wild meat. I’m one of these people. I hunt for meat and the enjoyment of being out in our valley. I only shoot what I’m going to eat and don’t waste it.

People who move into our valley, please respect my heritage and let my grandson have the same way of life my dad and grandfather had, as it is continually being taken away from all of us.

Please enjoy our valley, don’t try to change it, take it for what it is. This valley has a lot to offer. Enjoy it as I do.

Gordon Ogilvie

Wynndel