Vote for a “No Goat Kill” zone at Gimli
Words and pics by Vince Hempsall
Last September, while at the base of Mt. Gimli, I had the disturbing experience of being asked by a gentleman holding a rifle whether I’d mind if he “killed that mountain goat over there.” I had just spent the morning watching this beautiful, graceful animal jump around on the boulders in our campsite and now this guy wanted to put a bullet in its head. I asked him if he had legal tags to do so and he said yeah. I told him I supported the hunting of wild animals but that goat was habituated and I didn’t support him killing it in a provincial park where climbers and tourists hang out. He said he’d kindly wait til I left.
I later heard he shot the goat and gutted it just as a group of international school kids came walking by. He left the entrails by the trail. I don’t ever want this to happen again. Those mountain goats are the icing on the cake for those enjoying the Mulvey Basin and Mt. Gimli experience.
Please go to the govn’t web site below. They don’t make it easy to leave your comment but it will be worth it: Got to the site, register, get a password via your email, log in again with the password and leave a comment saying you support prohibiting hunting and the discharge of firearms within the Mulvey Watershed.
Below is a write-up from Wayne McCrory, Wildlife Biologist, Valhalla Wilderness Society and his letter of support:
Hello Everyone, Please pass along to friends and take the time to post support for this closure on the govt. web. Closing date for comments is Dec. 9. Unfortunately, they do not make it easy. First you have to go on the web and fill in the spaces and submit to get a password. Then you have to get your new password from your e-mail and log on. They do not make it clear as to what you are commenting on and then all I found was to SAVE my comments and then assumed that it went in OK. Maybe some of you can figure this out better than me. But PLEASE take the time to do this as very important to start to get no-hunting areas where people view animals. This is long overdue.
Below is the web address and my comments on VWS. Please use as a guide but make your own individual comments. Looks like some good may come of this.
Wayne McCrory
Laurel Tench photo
“The Valhalla Wilderness Society fully supports the creation of a mountain goat no-hunting zone in Mulvey Creek including Mt. Gimli. The recent legal killing of a habituated mountain goat at a popular alpine camping area caused a lot of local anger and a very unpleasant and upsetting wilderness experience for park visitors. Unfortunately the indiscretion of the hunter involved who had a legal tag gives a black eye to many of the hunting community who rely on local wild game and who show more respect for areas where people view and enjoy wild animals such as in Mulvey Basin. In October, the killing of an animal for sport that was obviously habituated is also unconscionable and unethical. We are pleased to see BC Parks and the Wildlife Branch being proactive on this matter. Closing areas to hunting where people enjoy viewing mountain goats is consistent with the objectives of the 2010 provincial mountain goat management plan. Please keep us posted on the progress made.”
Wayne McCrory, Wildlife Biologist, Valhalla Wilderness Society
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The Goats at Gimili are like guardians of the gate to the backcountry. This is the first I’ve heard of this. Very very sad news.
Wow, this raises some interesting issues. I am not a goat hunter, but I do hunt. I also climb and have enjoyed the company of mountain goats, around Gimley, and other places. Goats are pretty easy to find in the alpine. I only know the details of this story from your blog post.
I don’t defend the hunter’s choices. Some people feel that climbing is a selfish, reckless and irresponsible activity; perhaps some hunters are irresponsible? Sometimes people make bad choices, it generates discussion, and we learn.
Generally, we never see the animals we eat… just the packaged meat in the isle at a supermarket. Is hunting beautiful animals OK if it only occurs in areas where no-one is looking?
Is your concern that this was un-sporting, or that you were witness to the death of the animal?
Interesting discussion.
I agree the hunter could’ve picked a better place to hunt goats, but I hope some attention is paid to the fact people are helping habituate these animals.
They’re not pets, they’re not attractions, they’re wild animals. What would the reaction be had people treated bears the same as this goat?
I completely support this hunting ban but note that the trail to Gimli and the camping spot is on the Burn Creek side of the mountain, not the mulvey basin – the exclusion area should, at least, extend to the southern edge of the park . Quite honestly I was surprised that hunting in Provincial parks is allowed, I had always thought that the wildlife had had someplace of refuge – apparently not!
The proposed no goat hunting zone does not include the south side of Gimley (the camping area known locally as ‘the beach’). If it is adopted as proposed the zone would only include the north side of Gimley. The Gimley access trail from the Bannock Creek parking area is not within Valhalla Park.