Yukon First Nation chief supports roadside hunting ban

The chief of the Carcross Tagish First Nation says he supports a petition to protect roadside grizzly bears.

However, Chief Dan Cresswell says he needs to properly consult the community and ensure hunting rights are not affected.

He believes the First Nation will support a ban on shooting bears from the roadside.

"We're not eating the grizzlies. I mean, we stop and take pictures of them as well, and I think it would get support of CTFN. A lot of people are pretty upset about it," he said.

Cresswell said if anyone really wants a grizzly, they should head into the mountains and do an actual hunt. He added the issue is likely to come up at the next elders meeting.

The campaign to stop roadside bear hunting is in response to a grizzly bear killing last week on the Tagish Road.

Conservation officers say the shooting was legal. A Carcross man has started a Facebook petition to have the rules changed.