Why not bait bears

[Wild one]

Fun fact, not related to baiting, A while ago I heard the bear population increase was correlated to the introduction of viagra.

So are you saying all the old hunters are too “distracted” to bear hunt these days causing an increase in the bear population

[r106]

Baiting bears is to much work lol. The only thing i don't like about it is people will leave a mess.

[Pauly]

So are you saying all the old hunters are too “distracted” to bear hunt these days causing an increase in the bear population

I hear once your over 50 if u take viagra you won’t piss on your boots lol

[slowjo]

Baiting bears in a wilderness setting does not habituate bears. When’s the last time u saw a bear roll up at a Tim’s drive through. Secondly to suggest the open sale of bear parts just to manage numbers is offensive to all hunters. The only value is the hunt and the meat. Sustainable harvest not wholesale slaughter. You can’t be a hunter but must be something else.
sorry

I have seen bears at a drive through, bears at schools, bears at work, bears in buildings, bears in cars, bears in just about every human space and all of it recently.
I believe that bears who frequent bait piles may develop a propensity for human garbage. I believe bait piles on public land would be disgraceful and disgusting, and if baiting were legalized I would solicit the government to allow it on private land only. Habituated bears, however lovely they sometimes seem, are dangerous, unpredictable, destructive and sad.
For black bears, I believe taking the meat should continue to be required. Legalization of organ sales may lead to an increase in poaching. The sale of bear skulls and hides is permitted, is it not? How are these things different? Do gallbladders fetch astronomical sums? If so than I can see how this would contribute to illegal harvests. I would like to learn more to form a better opinion.
I agree with @islandeer that baiting is controversial and it may be best to not bring it to the front lines of issues facing hunters.
We should promote the flavours and diversity of bear meat and other resources that can be obtained from a bear harvest. We should speak out against the common theme from hunters and others that bear meat is somehow undesirable and we should teach our children that it is a tasty, useful and abundant animal resource.

[Pauly]

Like I said if you were a hunter you’d know the answers to your on questions. Ignorance is bliss I guess. Keep the politics to yourself this post is about hunting bears for bear hunters and some good debate. It’s not about ethics

[HarryToolips]

Considering how the M.O.E is encouraging hunters to get out and harvest black bears you’d think they’d let us bait to up our odds. Researchers back east have determined that baiting bears which allows for the removal of large boars, actually increases the bear populations. This is due to the fact that boars kill cubs to bring sows back into heat. Let’s face it you can’t just drive around, spot a bear and jump out and start shooting. The way it is now , one really has to spend considerable time observing to be sure of no cubs. I love spot and stalk no doubt. However; I don’t believe baiting is any less sporting, or exiting. Yet we can bait deer in bc, even though numbers are some what in decline. Go figure. I believe we have all of this ass backwards. No baiting deer and yes to baiting bears.
what’s every body’s thoughts on the subject is my question?

I agree with you...all other preds, which don't hibernate, should also have longer and more liberal seasons, imo..

[Pauly]

I agree with you...all other preds, which don't hibernate, should also have longer and more liberal seasons, imo..

It seems pred numbers really sky rocketed after the logging opened up the landscape. Creating favourable pred conditions like less cover less obstacles improved visibility ect. I think once forests tighten up and grow in better we will eventually see pred numbers decline . I think? Just a theory. Bears are good fawn and calf killers I know that. I know wolves have moved into my mule deer spot down in the pines and the sage first time ever in 30 years I’ve seen and heard them in the area. We need preds for a healthy ecosystem no doubt but I’m not above whacking a few when I can. One thing though I’m not seeing any coyotes the last few years?

[fuzzybiscuit]

I hear once your over 50 if u take viagra you won’t piss on your boots lol

Stops you from rolling out of bed too.....

[slowjo]

Who says the MOE is encouraging people to get out and harvest black bears any more than any other species? There are open seasons and bag limits set according to what the population can withstand.

agreed. can the original poster provide the specifics of the encouragement? is there a document, report or press release?

[slowjo]

Like I said if you were a hunter you’d know the answers to your on questions. Ignorance is bliss I guess. Keep the politics to yourself this post is about hunting bears for bear hunters and some good debate. It’s not about ethics

shouldn’t really have to defend myself. i am just stating my opinion. obviously from my post i’m pro-bear hunting and i do hunt bears. no need to call me ignorant for posing a question. i have seen some bait sites in ontario and they’re pretty gross. also, how can you have a debate about baiting bears and not discuss ethics?