Snow goose hunting on the Southlands has angered some residents, but property owner Sean Hodgins insists all rules are being followed.

Fresh off approval of a contentious development proposal, more fuel was added to the never-ending fire surrounding the Tsawwassen site when an amateur video was posted last week on YouTube. It showed a large flock of the noisy migratory birds taking off before shots rang out from a pair of hunters.

The roughly four-minute clip drew negative response from several expressing their indignation in the comment section of the page.

The shooting was criticized by some who said it was unethical, however, Hodgins, who gave the hunters permission to hunt on his property, noted the Southlands is not a nature reserve and is, in fact, designated as open for hunting.

"I do allow select responsible hunters to go on the property. My understanding, and I ask very specifically about the snow geese, is that it's allowed and they can't get enough hunters hunting snow geese to get the population under control," he said.

"Some people may be genuinely concerned... hunting has always happened and there has always been hunters down there, so I fully support the people who hunt. They are under very tight regulations how they hunt, but it seems hunting has become very socially unacceptable," Hodgins said. "I don't hunt, but I don't know a single hunter who hunts and doesn't consume what he hunts."

Hodgins said it's clear much of the new criticism being leveled against him is simply the result of some people looking for whatever they can find to hold against him. If his housing development in one section of the site receives final approval, he said hunting would likely have to cease, even though a large tract of the property would continue to be designated as agricultural.

Noting hunting is only allowed in certain areas in Delta, municipal property compliance and bylaw manager Hugh Davies confirmed a section of the Southlands permits the activity.

A huge population of snow geese arrives in this area annually from Wrangel Island in Russia. Roughly half the birds travel the Pacific Flyway to central California with the remainder wintering in B.C. and Washington.

A snow goose habitat working group, which includes the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, among other groups, came up with a management plan that calls for a population of no higher than 50,000 to 70,000 birds in the area, but estimates have this year's population at over 100,000.

The birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Act, however, farm owners have the right to use hunters to protect their land from grazing waterfowl under the province's Right to Farm Act.

On the YouTube comment section, Delta Rod and Gun Club president Dennis Zentner said no laws were broken and there's no evidence the hunters were randomly shooting into the flock.

"If the hunter had just shot into the flock with a shotgun many birds would have fell from the sky. It looks to me the only law broken here is the person filming this lawful hunt is in fact trespassing," he said.

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