This Thursday, April 21, the California Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold its second hearing on a petition to ban bear hunting until the completion of a comprehensive population study. The Humane Society of the United States-authored petition 2021-027 alleges that the department doesn’t have sufficient population data to justify continued hunting. During the hearing the commission will take public comment before deciding to grant, deny or refer the petition for further review.
In February, the Commission referred the petition to the State Department of Fish and Wildlife for review. This department is expected to present its findings at the hearing.
“With bear conflicts continually on the rise, it is clear that that bears are thriving in California,” said Dillon Barto, manager of state services at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “HSUS previously spearheaded the effort to band bear hunting with hounds, pushed a legislative ban on bear hunting last year and now they want to use this bogus study as a means to eliminate remaining bear hunting opportunities. This isn’t about science. This is about an agenda to end predator management in California, throughout the West Coast and nationwide.”
Sportsmen who wish to submit public comment to protect bear hunting can email the Commission at: [email protected], and can also speak live during the hearing via Zoom: Meeting ID: 891 0783 6662. The hearing can be watched live here: Live Hearing Broadcast April 21.
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.