TIABC Voice of Tourism Newsletter – January 16, 2026

While I’m not a huge country music fan, I’ve seen some of the genre’s biggest stars in concert in recent years including Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Shania Twain, and Luke Bryan who wrote a song that’s on my Spotify Walt’s Best list.

What I like about Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day is that it’s not only a catchy tune with simple and reflective lyrics, it reminds me of places in BC where hunting and fishing are a way of life and built into the DNA of residents, not to mention a vital part of the tourism industry. On the latter point, more than 5,000 hunters visit BC each year and spend more, per day, per capita, than any other visitors according to Guide Outfitters of BC (GOABC).

Therefore, it behooves us as the voice of tourism, to not only work closely with GOABC to advocate on behalf of the hunting sector, but also to help influence the provincial and federal regulatory environment in areas such as land use, tenure security, reconciliation, and species-at-risk to ensure hunting remains a strong and viable component of BC’s visitor economy.

Within that context, TIABC’s Policy Committee is in the process of reviewing the Terms of Reference for the government’s bi-annual consultation process (more details below) to update hunting and trapping regulations for the purpose of supporting sustainable wildlife management, respecting First Nations’ harvest rights, as well as balancing conservation with economic and recreational opportunities. 

In the spirit of full disclosure, we’re not subject matter experts on hunting so we’ll consult with GOABC and other members to ensure that whatever observations or recommendations we submit balances the needs of all hunters (i.e. resident & visitor), while also considering community and stakeholder perspectives, some of which may not align with the sector.

For the record, we’re unlikely to focus any efforts on the majority of the proposed regulatory changes which pertain to specific parcels of land or length of season for a hunt or species. However, a few of the suggested changes may be worth responding to. For example, in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Sunshine Coast and Sea-to-Sky regions, fruit and vegetable producers have requested an extension to black bear hunting seasons into August (consistent with the Kootenay and Okanagan regions) to mitigate concerns related to crop depredation while providing further hunting opportunities. The season would be restricted to private land only and allows farmers and hunters to cooperate in addressing farm management issues while also relieving pressure on conservation officers. 

As mentioned earlier, we’re not the lead authorities on this file but also recognize the need to take a position on one or more of the proposed changes given that for many rural and Indigenous communities, the hunting sector not only employs local residents (e.g. guide outfitters) and puts food on the table for families, it’s also central to their health, well-being and joy, all of which are equally as important.

The bridge of artist Luke Bryan’s popular song contains the lyrics…“So while y’all are up there breathin’ in that old dirty air, I’ll be down here, knee-deep, in the Muckalee, huntin’ and fishin’, and lovin’ every day. I wanna see them tall pines sway. Y’all close them eyes. Let’s go there in our mind”…which I do when I sense a bad mood on the horizon. Listening to Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day cheers me up and reminds me of the many friends and colleagues around BC who inspire me with their hunting and fishing way of life.

Walt Judas,

CEO, TIABC