Bear Season in the 7th?

[ksp965]

This past Sunday, August 1, 2004, the 7th District Federation voted to ask the KDF&WR and the LKS to open a bear season in that part of the 7th District where bears are concentrated in high numbers along the Pine Mountain Range, (probably Letcher and Harlan Counties). Discussion was that licences could be limited as are the current Elk Permits. Other comments were that if there is a running season, it should not coincide with the gun/archery season.

This was partially the result of the discussion about the recent incident in Letcher County where a local resident, a Mr. Terry L. Brock, shot and killed a bear that was alledgedly harrassing his dogs and horse. The individual has been charged with illegally killing a black bear, KRS 150.390. He has refused a plea bargain and is now set for trial on September 20, 2004 at 10:00 a.m.. In newspaper articles, he has claimed the killing was a matter of self-defense.

[Multidigits]

I'd be for a bear season, with quotas. But would want bait stations available for those without access to dogs.

[thunderstorm]

Of course I would like to see a bear season. As for baiting, this would increase the problem that we are trying to decrease by opening up a season...keeping them out of the trash cans, etc.
It will be difficult to hunt them without bait, but that is part of the fun. Try using a fawn distress call while bow hunting from a ground blind...talk about exciting hunting![:D]

[Multidigits]

Maybe, but if they learn that the free meals come at the price of their own hide, then they won't be getting into anyones garbage. Bear hunting over bait is the most effective way to hunt bears, and one of the safest ways.

[Multidigits]

I would doubt that our bears hibernate? Maybe they hole up for very brief periods, but not a true hibernation. Point is they are different than bears up north and could be hunted anytime. But most people would prefer them to have a good pelt for their rug or mount, so a cold weather period would be best. Spring would be fine, but we would need to know when they start shedding and rubbing their coats.

[schuyler olt]

I don't see why it couldn't overlap with turkey season or any other, for that matter. There would be so few tags, the hunter impact would be nil.

[Birdman]

January should be a good time. Probably, we should ask a bear biologist. Is there one lurking on this site?

[kyfanatic]

Virginia's bear season coincides with deer in the fall,I've been out with guys who hunt with dogs near the Shenandoah area of Virginia where the highest concentration of Black bears east of the Mississippi exists.

[Feedman]

What will happen to the Elk carcasses if we go to hunting Bears???

Do we need to speed up the importation of Mountain Lions to help out with this problem????

It ain't braggin, if you can back it up.

[Multidigits]

Rottin beavers.....bears will eat anything they can get, the nastier it is , the more it stinks. I've heard it said that bears can smell a bait from 10 miles away. I don't really believe that, but they travel long distances to feed when they want.

[Ralph]

Man, you get my vote for a bear season in KY!!

Ralph

[Greenapple]

Never hunted them but i have eaten bear. The cut i ate tasted sweet and i liked it. I wonder if its where yogi eats all them jelly donuts.[:D] All for some kind of a season in ky. But i live in pike co. and i,d say we would end up in a buffer zone. [8D]

[CPA Hunter]

3 weeks and I'll be bear hunting in the UP of MI. You get the preference points up there and as a NR they only will take 2% but I was drawn after 4 years -- not too bad of a wait.

[Greenapple]

I hope ya nail a 20 inch skull CPA Hunter. Good luck and safe hunting. Take lots of pics.