One of the areas to be opened to trophy grizzly hunting is the province's Kootenay region, which runs along the south of the province, close to Washington, Idaho and Montana. The American Endangered Species Act, which lists grizzly bears as "threatened", protects the species in the lower 48 states. Having the Kootenay region open to hunting could likely infringe on protected American populations. Since 2001, an estimate of 253 grizzlies are killed for sport in British Columbia each year.

Andrew Weaver, Green Party MLA in BC, and a climate scientist at the University of Victoria, is concerned about the long-term implications that a changing climate will have on this already threatened species. Opposed to the concept of trophy hunting in general, Weaver states, "I don't even like to call it a 'hunt'. It mixes things up with the hunters who hunt for food. I call it trophy killing."

Polls show that 80% of BC residents share views with Weaver, opposing trophy hunting of grizzlies due to their symbolic role as an animal of the BC wilderness, and recognizing their highly important ecological role.