ROBIN UNRAU
President
I am a very proud lifelong BC resident. From my very earliest memories I knew I was a hunter. Being raised in a wonderful hunting family allowed me to live this dream to the fullest and enjoyed a terrific guiding career in BC, NWT and Alberta.
I am a husband, father, son, brother, friend and an admitted workaholic. Aside from guiding I have enjoyed many careers in forestry, construction, home building, renovations and currently I work at a mine in NW BC and loving it.
Like many, I have grave concerns for BC. Our wildlands, watersheds, wildlife and hunting have reached a tipping point in BC and my personal goal is to help all BC residents understand what has transpired in this beautiful province and help any way I can to reverse the current trends. I understand the problems overwhelming this province and with the hard work of many, I believe hunters can promote change and shape a future where everyone can enjoy British Columbia the way it was meant to be. Beautiful.
DAVE RYDER
Vice President
I am the product of a long lineage of hunter, trappers, fisherman and outdoor heritage, born and raised in B.C. following a family migration from Manitoba where living off the land was a way of life more than a hobby. As long as I can remember being outdoors has always been a priority for me, from hunting whitetails and elk in the Kootenay’s to moose on the Yukon border, from urban and nuisance trapping for the Fish & Wildlife branch to Salmon fishing the rivers and oceans.
Retired after 40 years in the lumber industry it is now time to pursue my dreams and become even more a part of what B.C. has to offer in our diminishing wilderness.
This past November I became very concerned about the state of our wildlife in the areas I frequent and was inspired to start petitioning our Government to make change on our inadequate wildlife management policies as a single voice of one. It was then I was introduced to the founders of Hunters for B.C. Upon learning of that their goals held the same values and desire to make change for the betterment of Wildlife as my own were. Without hesitation I decided to jump right in and do my best to support the group and as a result have become a proud director with a dedicated team of great people who are willing to fight for and represent the outdoors people of our Province.
And thanks to all the members and the efforts of Hunters for B.C. I believe that we now have a chance to restore the balance to our wildlife and it’s habitat, and our resources that manage them back to the levels sustainability like they once were not only for myself, but for everyone and generations to come.
WENDY CARY
Treasurer
I grew up in BC in a fishing family though my Dad had a gun in the closet I don’t actually remember him ever using it. My brother hunted a few ducks and unsuccessfully hunted deer until he put his gun away in preference for his fishing rod.
In high school I met a Guide Outfitter’s son and my eyes were opened to hunting – hunting culture, hunting passion and hunting conservation. I still don’t hunt but as a Guide Outfitter (yep married him) I am also passionate about our wild places and our wild animals. In the last 40 years I have attended too many meetings where the divisiveness of hunters has been the agenda, not how do we make and keep more wildlife in this province. Hunters for BC is focused on the same passion I have – create more wildlife, create more wild places. BC has the potential to be the showcase of the world for wildlife populations for viewing and hunting. We need to band together and change the focus of wildlife management.
Secretary, Director of Media & Public Relations
Our secretary much prefers being behind a camera, not in front of it. Born & raised to a hunting family from the West Kootenays, she is passionate about wildlife conservation.
NEIL FINDLAY
Director
I grew up on a cattle farm in Armstrong, BC. Went to UBC after high school and achieved a forstry degree with a minor in wildlife management. Worked all over Coastal BC for 3 years after finishing UBC, completed requirements to become a Profesional Forester and then moved to the Interior and started my own consulting business. I have done that ever since. 30+ years working in the forest industry all over BC, primarily in planning, development and operations but have a broad and diverse background in a number of areas. I currently reside in Sun Peaks and have two teenage daughters. I am a very avid hunter but also spend a lot of time fishing, mountain biking and downhill and Nordic sking. I ran a trapline when I was younger and have also tried my hand as a guide-outfitter. My life largely revolves around the outdoors. I have found myself very frustrated with the crash in ungulate populations in this Province over the last 10 years. My goal in working within Hunters for BC is to try and bring about change in wildlife management to attempt to bring back ungulate populations to where they have historically been.
TJ Burns
Director
This fall will be my 8th year hunting, and each year’s experience shows me how much more there is to learn.
I grew up with a curiosity about hunting after hearing hunting stories from both of my grandfathers; they passed on to me their appreciation for the outdoors and imparted a sense of wonder and responsibility for what it means to be a hunter.
I feel that part of that responsibility is being an active participant in conservation for both the land and the wildlife in our province.
Evan Holmgren
Director
I am an angler and a hunter who takes an active role in conservation. I have volunteered in numerous watershed cleanups, sheep counts and marsh projects. I am also an active member of the Pitt Waterfowlers, a group of hunters who care for the waterways and marshlands of Pitt Meadows. The team has established habitats for wood ducks through their nesting box program for 12 years. This program is a great source of pride for the local waterfowl community.
I have had a fishing rod in my hands for as long as I can remember. The rod of choice quickly became a fly fishing rod, allowing me to better understand my quarry, its feeding patterns and food choices. I came by hunting less traditionally. My father, an avid outdoorsman passed away when I was three years old. I was always drawn towards hunting, but never had a purpose to hunt. My partner Amanda, brought me into this community and taught me how to hunt big game. Together we trained a hunting dog and found a middle ground in waterfowling.
I am excited to play a role in Hunters for BC because it allows me to provide something for tomorrow. As the farmer tends to their crops, so must we tend to our flocks and herds. The hunter-conservationist must evolve with changing times and perceptions. I look forward to how we will continue to lead as stewards of our shared land while building the relationships necessary to do great things.
David Abbott
Director
Originally from the UK and raised in a non-hunting family, I first picked up a shotgun at 18—and it changed the course of my life. Hunting has since taken me on incredible adventures, introduced me to lifelong friends, and shaped my connection to the outdoors in a profound way
Before moving to B.C. in 2019, I worked seasonally in the UK as a hunting guide and government deer culler. Since relocating, I’ve embraced the challenge of relearning hunting in B.C.’s vast and diverse landscapes. I currently work as a hunting guide in the East Kootenays, balancing the demands of the guiding season with a deep commitment to conservation and wildlife management.
My passion for the environment and ethical hunting practices is what drives my involvement with Hunters for BC. As a father, I’m dedicated to ensuring that hunting traditions and access to wild spaces are protected for future generations.
Chris Gareau
Acting Director
I learned the value of being on the land from an early age on our family trapline—riding an old Elan Skidoo through the bush, checking leg-hold traps for squirrels and snares for coyotes. I sharpened my aim with a bolt-action .22 rifle, managing gopher populations on a relative’s land where they’d become a serious issue. For our family, food security was never taken for granted. Elk filled our freezers, and harvesting was never sport—it was survival, discipline, and duty.
Later, I pursued advanced firearms training through military service with a light armoured reconnaissance unit. That experience shaped my approach to discipline and gave me direction. My love for adventure brought me north, where I worked with a helicopter company during wildfire seasons. As an apprentice aircraft maintenance engineer, I supported frontline operations and saw firsthand how quickly wildfires could devastate the land. That time deepened my understanding of ecosystems and our role as caretakers.
Eventually, I shifted into the trades, working at heights and with precision as a structural welder and Red Seal ironworker. Despite the demanding nature of the job, the land always called me back. Almost like clockwork, I’d find myself laid off just in time for the fall harvest. I now see that timing as a gift—an invitation to step fully into my most sacred role: provider.
Harvesting moose, elk, and white-tailed deer became more than tradition—it became ceremony. My methods evolved with each passing season, rooted in the old ways of gratitude, respect, and balance. I follow harvesting principles that honour biodiversity and long-standing Indigenous knowledge. This isn’t about taking more—it’s about taking only what’s needed, and giving back where we can.
Being on the land is how I healed. It’s how I broke free from the weight of intergenerational trauma and reclaimed identity, pride, and peace. Whether I’m harvesting, mentoring youth, picking huckleberries, or just sitting quietly with the land, I know I’m right where I belong.
My leadership experience includes elected First Nation governance, environmental restoration, and working with national conservation partners to shape approaches that honour Indigenous values. I carry these teachings with humility and commitment.
Hunters for BC gives me a space to stand with others who believe in stewardship, sovereignty, and legacy. I’m proud to walk this path with you.
Cara Adrain
B.Sc., M.Sc., R.P.Bio.
Biologist + GIS Specialist
Cara is a biologist with over 15 years of experience in the environmental field. More recently her work has focused on cumulative effects related to human development on the landscape. While most of her time is spent analyzing spatial data, Cara enjoys and looks for every opportunity to spend time in the field on various projects ranging from wildlife, remediation and water quality work.
Cara was born and raised in the Kootenay-Boundary region of BC but has lived in Alberta and Ontario while pursuing education and early work experience. Cara holds a M.Sc. in Environmental Science from the University of Lethbridge, where her research was directed at ecosystem modelling and aquatic invasive species.
