Came across this anti-website (w w w.ontariospringbearhunt.ca/) and sent them the below letter thru their contact page:
Hello, I have several questions and comments regarding information posted on your page. As an advocate of the spring hunt, I feel it important to examine both sides of the argument, and stick to the facts. Hoping your group feels the same way.
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The black bear is the only big game with dependant young that will be hunted in the spring.
- It is illegal to kill sows with dependent young, and this is clearly outlined in the regulations.
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Many of the bear encounters reported as attacks are “bluff charges” resulting in no physical contact with the person.
- This may be true. What is certainly true is that it's a very clear indication by the bear that it is THREATENING the person. They have all the speed, strength and ability to carry out that threat by seriously injuring or killing a person. This situation is the last step before an actual attack occurs. People facing bears in this situation are lucky to survive. You cannot diminish the seriousness of bluff charges simply because there is no physical contact. You can point a gun at someone and not shoot them, which is much the same thing.
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The spring bear hunt will not improve public safety and it will cause hundreds of bear cubs to die a slow painful death in the wilds.
- How? Your facts state that 274 bear cubs were orphaned in 1999 in a PROVINCEWIDE hunt, when it was not illegal to kill sows, with or without dependent cubs. This season's hunt will take place over a much smaller area with fewer hunters. Most importantly, it is now illegal to kill sows with dependent cubs. I don't think your argument here has merit.
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Despite the fact that hunters are not suppose to kill females with cubs, a lot are.
- How do you know this? Please quote your source.
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A mother would seldom take her cubs to the baiting site...
- This is false. From experience, most cubs approach the bait BEFORE the sow. She will communicate with them if she feels they are in danger, and this is actually quite fascinating to watch.
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...and at 50 to 100 yards it is difficult to tell the difference between males and females.
This is true, however the presence of cubs, whom are always close to the sow, indicates a female. Males will most often attempt to kill cubs, so they can breed the sow.
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Shooting bears in the spring, when they are vulnerable, hungry, and still have dependent cubs, is unethical.
- Bears are always hungry. Period. Again, it's illegal to shoot sows with dependent cubs, which invalidates your argument. It is not unethical to hunt and use bears for their meat and fur, and a quick, humane kill is much more than Mother Nature will ever offer these creatures.
Also, to declare them vulnerable is to disrespect them. To say this indicates a lack of understanding as to what impressive and competent survivors they are.
I hope to hear back from you on the above questions, and challenge you to strengthen your argument with more tangible information. I realize it "feels" a certain way because these creatures are easy to adore from afar, however these types of objections typically come from folks who don't spend much time in the woods, and just don't know the facts. I challenge you to prove me wrong
