On Thursday, April 16, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously passed an amendment to allow bear hunters to buy two black bear tags each license year instead of one. The decision is a victory for sportspeople in the Golden State.
The amendment was backed by numerous conservation groups, including the California Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA). The season tag limit increase comes as the average annual bear harvest rate hovers well below the quota of 1,700 bears. For instance, last year, according to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW), fewer than 1,200 bears were taken.
In the meantime, California’s bear population is currently estimated to be around 59,000 bears, and human-bear conflicts have increased in certain areas. “We are not advocating for an increase in the quota. We’re advocating for a second bear tag to reach the quota established by science, by the management professionals within the Department of Fish and Wildlife,” said BHA Western Policy and Conservation Manager Devin O’Dea. “Not allowing individuals to purchase another bear tag—that’s just a loss in revenue for the department.”
O’Dea’s perspective was supported by science presented to the California Fish and Game Commission by CDFW scientists, who estimated that the regulation change would only marginally increase the overall annual bear harvest. The 1,700 bear quota will remain the same.
“I believe in hunting. It’s a natural way to eat meat. I know for sure that hunting and fishing are ways for people to connect with nature and cultivate a healthy respect for nature,” said Commissioner Samantha Murray. “It’s a scientific question, and the second tag is supported by the information that we have.”
Despite the season tag limit increase, California still has unusually strict bear hunting regulations. Hunting over dogs—a popular and effective way to target bears—was outlawed by state legislators there in 2012. Additionally, the state does not hold a spring bear season.
Still, many local hunters are welcoming the action, especially as it comes just five years after sportsmen’s groups defeated a bill that would have banned bear hunting in the state entirely. For folks interested in taking advantage of the expanded opportunity, California offers great public land access for spot-and-stalk black bear hunting.
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