Gitlaxt’aamiks, BC – October 15, 2012 The Nisga’a Lisims Government (NLG) Department of Resource Enforcement along with the Lisims/Nass Valley RCMP, Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Conservation Officer Service will be joining forces during the upcoming hunting season in the Nass Valley.

There will be random road-blocks set-up in high visibility areas to educate and inform all visitors and local sportsmen surrounding the upcoming season.

As determined by the Nisga‚Äôa Annual Wildlife Management Plan for 2012-13, this year‚Äôs hunting season on Nisga‚Äôa lands opens October 20th and runs through to the 26th. Successful hunters are required to submit their harvest data to NLG within three days of their harvest. The harvest allocation for the hunting season is 25 bull moose for Nisga‚Äôa hunters.  The Nisga‚Äôa Fisheries & Wildlife Department held a lottery draw at random and the 25 Nisga‚Äôa hunters have since been awarded.

Enforcement officers from all agencies will be patrolling the valley and popular hunting areas. The NLG has met with partner enforcement agencies to come up with specific strategies to protect the shrinking moose population. This would include vehicle, ATV and marine patrols throughout the Nation.

Hunters and members of the public are encouraged to report poaching or any other environmental crime to the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.  The report a poacher/polluter line is staffed twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The public is reminded that reports can be made anonymously.

“The RCMP deems this to be a priority for the local detachment and will provide whatever resources and assistance to our partners this hunting season. Ultimately the RCMP can and will enforce offences under the Nisga’a and Provincial Wildlife Act should offenders be intercepted. We look forward to a safe hunting season” Sgt. Donovan Tait.

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