Texada Island residents are concerned after an arrow was found stuck in a tree on a Texada Island farm.
The presence of arrows on private property hits a sensitive spot, given that hunting is prohibited within 100 metres of dwellings, said residents Debbie Shapter and John Wood.
The arrow was found by Shapter, less than 10 metres from Blacktail Farm, which includes her Shelter Point Road home and art studio.
“The laws are being broken and it makes it dangerous,” said Shapter. “My grandson and I walk down there and we could have easily been hurt.”
Shapter said she noticed the arrow on Thursday, January 21, several days after the end of Texada’s extended bowhunting season. Although Shapter said she doesn’t know exactly when the arrow was shot, its presence so near to her home underscores what she referred to as a fundamental disrespect many bowhunters have for the rules.
“Hunting here is like a frenzy,” said Shapter. “Regulations aren’t being enforced, which is creating a very dangerous environment for residents.”
In Van Anda, Wood said he has also found arrows on his property and blames visiting hunters for not following the rules.
“Locals would know better,” said Wood. “Hunters are responsible for knowing where and where not to hunt.”
On Texada, no-shooting zones prohibit rifle hunting in several areas, including Van Anda, Blubber Bay, Gillies Bay and Shelter Point Road.
In addition to refraining from hunting on private property without permission, rules stipulate bowhunting is only allowed in no-shooting zones if hunters refrain from hunting within 200 metres of road allowance, or within 100 metres of a dwelling.
A seven-year Texada resident, Shapter said bowhunting has become more and more problematic each year, with difficulties becoming especially pronounced during Texada’s extended bowhunting season December 16 to January 15.
“[The extended bowhunting season] attracts a lot of people to the hotel and the hunting store,” she said, “but we definitely don’t celebrate it.”
This year Shapter said a particular sore point was the annual Broken Arrow bowhunting contest, in which hunters from around the province vie to bag the biggest Texada Island deer.
Broken Arrow organizer Sam Sansalone said he is angry that someone on Texada would insinuate someone from his group was hunting illegally.
“My job is to have a business and promote hunting and fishing ethics,” said Sansalone. “Most of the people that hunt in our group have been hunting in Powell River for most of their lives and are not weekend warriors.”
Sansalone said he is sympathetic to Shapter’s concerns, but advised her to collect evidence in the future.
“They should have gotten a licence plate and reported them,” he said. “If I was a resident and saw something illegal, I would collect proof.”
Over the years, Shapter said she has had bowhunters shoot deer on her driveway and even knock on the door of her home and ask to shoot an animal on her lawn. She said it has been difficult to collect licence-plate numbers because, for the most part, hunters arrive in the dark during the morning or evening hours.
Although the incident on Shapter’s property was attended and investigated by Powell River RCMP, sergeant Kevin Day said without evidence tying the arrow directly to a specific hunter, it is impossible to press charges.
“Unfortunately, there was not enough evidence to tie the arrow to one person in particular,” said Day. “Unless [the resident] saw them shooting on their property, it is a tough one to prove.”
Shapter said she is frustrated by the lack of response by RCMP and conservation officers, who she said told her it was her duty to gather evidence in addition to hanging “no hunting” signs on her property, where she sells eggs, farm produce and handmade soap.
“I am trying to develop a business with a nice little feel to it and a sign saying ‘no hunting, danger’ would ruin it,” she said. “I don’t have to hang a sign warning people not to break into my building.”
For Texada’s Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick, signage is just common sense, especially as more and more hunters seem to be flocking to the island each year.
“Signs protect and promote public safety,” said McCormick. “At least they have no excuse for not following the rules if there’s a sign.”
According to Powell River conservation officer Andrew Anaka, although a large sign in Blubber Bay makes hunting regulations clear to all those arriving from the ferry, residents with additional concerns should post their own “no hunting” signage.
Anaka said hunting is very popular on Texada due to an abundance of deer and the lengthy hunting season. Despite concerns from residents, he said his office receives very few hunting complaints from the island.
“The conservation officer service receives five to 10 hunting-related complaints on Texada each year,” said Anaka. “A notable few hunters don’t heed the regulations and BC Conservation Officer Service deals with these individuals on a complaint-by-complaint basis.”
Anaka said hunting is a regulated activity enjoyed by nearly 100,000 people in British Columbia and hunting with a firearm or bow is not inherently dangerous when practical rules and regulations are followed. Those wishing to report violations to conservation officers can call 1.877.952.7277.
Although Shapter said she has removed the offending arrow from her tree at Blacktail Farm, the uncertainty of what will happen when bowhunting season reopens next year weighs heavily on her mind.
“I am not against hunting, but it’s not, and should not be, a free for all,” said Shapter. “If hunters were hunting in residential areas in Powell River, something would be said.”
