The California Fish and Game Commission recently asked the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to review an anti-hunting petition that would ban bear hunting until the completion of a comprehensive population study.
Petition 2021-027, which was proposed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), claims the state does not have accurate population data for bears in California. HSUS has been unable to provide any proof to support this allegation.
Once the Department of Fish and Wildlife reviews the petition, they will submit comments to the Fish and Game Commission, which will then vote on the proposal.
“Bear conflicts are surging, causing increases in property damages along with dangerous confrontations with people,” said Dillon Barto, manager of state services at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “With a Lake Tahoe woman viciously attacked in November, a 500-pound bear that has broken into 30 homes and mother bears being documented teaching cubs how to enter homes with people inside, it would be unfathomable for the state to even consider elimination of the most effective means of avoiding negative bear encounters.”
The department has committed to providing comments on the petition at the next commission meeting on April 20-21. Public comment concerning the petition will also be accepted during the meeting with a likely vote to take place after the comments. Comments on the petition can be submitted anytime to fgc@fgc.ca.gov.
WATCH & COMMENT: To watch and/or comment during the virtual meeting, see instructions here
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
