What the new bear hunting rules mean for California – KRCR

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by Adam Robinson
NORTHSTATE, Calif. — The California Fish and Game Commission’s decision to expand black bear hunting raises key questions about how the new rules will work and what impact they could have.
The changes are expected to take effect in the next hunting season under California’s regulatory process. While hunters can now obtain up to two bear tags per year, the statewide harvest cap of 1,700 bears remains in place, meaning total kills are still limited even with the added tag, according to the state's Code of Regulations.
State wildlife officials estimate California’s black bear population between 49,00 and 71,000 animals, and annual harvests have typically fallen below the cap, based on data from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency has said the updated rules are intended to provide additional management tools as bear populations expand geographically. The geographic changes open or expand hunting access in eastern portions of Lassen and Modoc counties, areas where hunting had previously been restricted.
“It feels really conservative to me still to propose an increase that the scientists of the department have told us would result in probably in the order of 100 to 200 more bears harvested a year, still well below the cap that's been set. And it is a cap I agree with. It’s a cap, not a goal," California Fish and Game Commissioner Erika Zavaleta said during the meeting on April 16. "There are many threats to large wildlife in California. Because of the excellent science and enforcement work that happens in California, hunting is not one of the big threats to them. The number of additional bears who would be harvested, by an increase to two tags, is comparable to the number of bears who are killed by vehicle strikes every year alone in California.”
Existing safeguards remain unchanged. Hunting cubs or mothers with cubs is prohibited, baiting is not allowed and hunters must follow strict tagging and reporting rules, including mandatory tag validation and harvest reporting.
“I’m a field ecologist. I’ve worked for 35 years in a variety of landscapes across California and the world, and it’s quite consistently the case that hunters know wildlife very intimately," Zavaleta continued. "From my own experience, I believe very strongly that that is a really important part, in the long run, of conservation and sustainable stewardship.”
"This isn't a question about animal rights, this isn't a question about human-bear conflict, and it's not really about us placing a value judgement on whether we support hunting or not. And that's true, even if it is bears," said California Fish and Game Commissioner Samantha Murray at the meeting. "I believe in hunting. I believe it's a natural way to eat meat. I know for sure that hunting and fishing are important ways for young people, and for all people, to connect with nature and to cultivate a healthy respect and love for the outdoors."
"I'm probably the only person up here that's actually a bear hunter. I do have bear meat in my fridge. I am not a trophy hunter; I'm what you call an 'experience hunter.' So, I look for experiences…with my son; with my family; with my friends. And those experiences give me what I feel is an enriched life. And many of you who've spent time with me know that part of my passion, when I'm not doing my day job, is the experience around hunting," said California Fish and Game Commissioner Darius W. Anderson during the meeting. "But, on the science side, I wanted to take a look at, 'where did we match up…against other bear management plans throughout the country?' And so, on my own nickel, I flew to North Carolina, which has a very prolific bear management plan—and they have a population of roughly about 21,000 bears; their bear population has been steadily expanding… And so, bears are moving into places they have not traditionally been. However, with a population of 21,000 bears, they're currently harvesting 4,200 bears. So when I look at our number, or a cap, of 1,700…I think it's not only reasonable, but I think it does protect where many people in this state feel, and have an unusual feeling about bear hunting, that the department has managed both the science and the emotion that goes along with this issue."
"I want to say something to the folks who really are against—whether they say it expressly or not—against hunting and killing animals: that's a perfectly reasonable position. It is, and it's heartfelt, and it's sincere. I don't believe that anybody—I don't know of anybody or known of anybody—who hunts bear who doesn't eat the bear," said California Fish and Game Commissioner Eric Sklar just before the final vote. "Eating's not an option. Choosing whether to eat meat or not is a choice, and that's a choice people can make, but that's not really what's before us. What's before us is the laws, the science of hunting. So, I feel for what you care about. I do, and I understand why you do. But, I want to explain why we feel the way we do and why we act the way we do on this."
CDFW officials said they will track harvest numbers, population trends and human-bear conflicts in the coming seasons to evaluate the effects of the rule changes.
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