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A group of B.C. hunting guides who are appealing the provincial government's changes in the number of moose they can hunt have lost the initial stage of an appeal.

The hunting outfitters from the Cariboo region hadn't even begun to argue their case against the province's new restriction on moose hunting but have lost a preliminary decision to determine whether the appeal will take place in person or in writing.

According to a Feb. 17 Environment Appeal Board decision, the five hunting outfitters had wanted an oral hearing to challenge the government's new rules on hunting moose but instead the Environmental Appeal Board struck down their application and the appeal will be conducted through written submissions.

"The (hunters) add that the (The Fish and Wildlife Branch) should not be able to make potentially life-altering decisions affecting (them) and never have to justify those decisions or face the persons who will be affected by those decisions," Environmental Appeal Board panel chair Diana Valiela said in the decision.

The hunting guides argued the government's change in moose hunting licences was made by a faceless bureaucrat in Victoria but that decision could potentially have dire consequences for them.

"They conclude that the legitimacy of the process would be greatly enhanced through an oral hearing of this matter," the decision read.

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The decision didn't give precise details about the change in moose hunting licences but said the hunters are appealing a July 2022 move whereby the province began issuing five-year allocation numbers and single-year quota numbers for bull moose to be hunted.

The outfitters want to go back to the old system of allocation and quota.

The appeal against the province's move was brought by Bradley Bowdenm Darren Linnell, Eldon McMann, Allan Tew and Stewart Fraser. The decision said they are all guide outfitters in the Cariboo.

Kluskoil Adventures, Itcha Mountain Outfitters, and the B.C. Wildlife Federation are all named as participants in the appeal.

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The hunters argued that some of them live in remote areas and to conduct the hearing in writing would mean several trips into town to provide information and have affidavits sworn, rather than attending on one occasion for an oral hearing.

However, the Environmental Appeal Board didn't buy it.

The Board stated a hearing isn't particularly complex and didn't justify the need, and extra expense, for an oral hearing.

The decision didn't give a date for when the hearing will take place.

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