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Black, Grizzly, Polar Bear Hunting: Maine, Alaska, Ontario
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Published: January 30, 2007
Many hunters say there is nothing quite like the thrill of the bear hunt. While hunting more docile animals like deer, quail or duck provide a challenge, they don't provide quite the thrill or danger that hunting for bears does. But for those living in the United States, bear hunting options can be severely limited.
Due to the relative rarity and variety of the species, bear hunting is highly regulated in many states. A majority of states require hunters to take part in a lottery before being issued a license. Still, this doesn't seem to have dented the popularity as bear hunting remains one of the most popular wild game sports in the United States.
Black bear hunting is one of the most common and popular forms of hunting. Black bears are among the most thriving species of bear in the world. As such, black bear hunting often has the lowest level of restriction on it, making them a popular target for hunters. Black bears are normally a cautious animal, but at 300 pounds, they do a lot of damage to an incautious hunter.
Grizzly Bear hunting is a far more regulated practice, usually limited to the more well regulated bear populations of Canada and Alaska. In fact, hunting for grizzly bears is currently illegal in the Continental United States. It is often suggested that hunters do not venture out alone on hunting trips, as grizzly bears can reach 1,500 pounds and travel as fast as 35 mph. Still, many hunters consider grizzly bears to be the greatest of the Canadian wildlife hunts, and hunting trips can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Hunters hoping to take on polar bears, however, are out of luck. Polar bear hunting is severely limited in all countries primarily due to their listing as an endangered species and partially due to poaching and habitat destruction by global warming. Most hunting licenses for polar bears are given to Inuit and other native local peoples, as a cultural deference, though they will often turn around and sell them for several thousand dollars to wealthy foreign hunters. Currently, there is a large push to make hunting for polar bears completely illegal, along with the import of goods make from polar bear body parts.
Alaska bear hunting is a popular experience. This is partially because Alaska has a huge game population and wide open territory for both bear and hunter to prowl. Because of this, Alaska hunting licenses are a little more readily available, and travel companies are able to offer more enticing hunting packages than those offered in the Continental U.S. The state is very welcoming of hunting populace and the tourism money brought by those interested in Alaska bear hunting.
Additionally, Maine bear hunting has traditionally been a dominant force in hunting circles, mainly due to the large black bear populations in Maine's forests. A referendum was introduced in 2004 by environmentalists to put an end to bear hunting in Maine; however, the economic interests of the hunting industry ultimately won out, and the referendum was struck down. Today, Maine bear hunting remains extremely popular.
While environmentalists will argue that hunting has driven down bear populations across the globe, it is hard to argue with the popularity of bear hunting around the world. Whether it is for meat or pelt or just for sport, there is no doubt that the hunting of black, grizzly and even polar bears will remain popular for many years to come.
Sources:
Krauss, Clifford. “Bear Hunting Caught in Global Warming Debate.” New York Times. 27 May 2006. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/world/americ as/27bears.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=07 />Wilson, Kevin. “The Bear Facts.” BigGameHunt.net. 8 Feb. 2005. RiderWeb, Inc. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Black_Bear /The_Bear_Facts__25_Things_Every_Black_Bear_Hunter />Alaska's Bears. Alaska Division of Wildlife Conservation. 2007. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=bear s.main>.
“Brown Bear.” Wikipedia. 27 Jan. 2007. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Bear>.Maine Bear Hunting Reforendum. Maine Professional Guides Association. 1998-2006. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://www.maineguides.org/referendum/index.sh tml>.
Polar Bear Facts. Polar Bears International. 2007. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/bear-fa cts/>.
Due to the relative rarity and variety of the species, bear hunting is highly regulated in many states. A majority of states require hunters to take part in a lottery before being issued a license. Still, this doesn't seem to have dented the popularity as bear hunting remains one of the most popular wild game sports in the United States.
Black bear hunting is one of the most common and popular forms of hunting. Black bears are among the most thriving species of bear in the world. As such, black bear hunting often has the lowest level of restriction on it, making them a popular target for hunters. Black bears are normally a cautious animal, but at 300 pounds, they do a lot of damage to an incautious hunter.
Grizzly Bear hunting is a far more regulated practice, usually limited to the more well regulated bear populations of Canada and Alaska. In fact, hunting for grizzly bears is currently illegal in the Continental United States. It is often suggested that hunters do not venture out alone on hunting trips, as grizzly bears can reach 1,500 pounds and travel as fast as 35 mph. Still, many hunters consider grizzly bears to be the greatest of the Canadian wildlife hunts, and hunting trips can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Hunters hoping to take on polar bears, however, are out of luck. Polar bear hunting is severely limited in all countries primarily due to their listing as an endangered species and partially due to poaching and habitat destruction by global warming. Most hunting licenses for polar bears are given to Inuit and other native local peoples, as a cultural deference, though they will often turn around and sell them for several thousand dollars to wealthy foreign hunters. Currently, there is a large push to make hunting for polar bears completely illegal, along with the import of goods make from polar bear body parts.
Alaska bear hunting is a popular experience. This is partially because Alaska has a huge game population and wide open territory for both bear and hunter to prowl. Because of this, Alaska hunting licenses are a little more readily available, and travel companies are able to offer more enticing hunting packages than those offered in the Continental U.S. The state is very welcoming of hunting populace and the tourism money brought by those interested in Alaska bear hunting.
Additionally, Maine bear hunting has traditionally been a dominant force in hunting circles, mainly due to the large black bear populations in Maine's forests. A referendum was introduced in 2004 by environmentalists to put an end to bear hunting in Maine; however, the economic interests of the hunting industry ultimately won out, and the referendum was struck down. Today, Maine bear hunting remains extremely popular.
While environmentalists will argue that hunting has driven down bear populations across the globe, it is hard to argue with the popularity of bear hunting around the world. Whether it is for meat or pelt or just for sport, there is no doubt that the hunting of black, grizzly and even polar bears will remain popular for many years to come.
Sources:
Krauss, Clifford. “Bear Hunting Caught in Global Warming Debate.” New York Times. 27 May 2006. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/world/americ as/27bears.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=07 />Wilson, Kevin. “The Bear Facts.” BigGameHunt.net. 8 Feb. 2005. RiderWeb, Inc. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Black_Bear /The_Bear_Facts__25_Things_Every_Black_Bear_Hunter />Alaska's Bears. Alaska Division of Wildlife Conservation. 2007. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=bear s.main>.
“Brown Bear.” Wikipedia. 27 Jan. 2007. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Bear>.Maine Bear Hunting Reforendum. Maine Professional Guides Association. 1998-2006. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://www.maineguides.org/referendum/index.sh tml>.
Polar Bear Facts. Polar Bears International. 2007. 28 Jan. 2007 <http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/bear-fa cts/>.
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