Public meeting/Hearings about hunting regulations for bear, dog bear, deer, national forest, etc.

[C.Killmaster]

I sure would like to see some highly respected officers such as yourself get behind us on this measure to open a new hunting opportunity to georgia and even put a little money into state revenue! This would be a win even if it was just a short bow season after turkey season or even bow only during turkey season! I know you guys have enough going on but it would be great to have you and your fellow officers support!

I appreciate the sentiment, but it's not really my place to do that. Something like that would likely originate in the legislature and they would seek the input of the bear biologist, not me the deer biologist (I'm not in law enforcement, so you don't have to refer to me as an officer).

While a spring season would be a great opportunity, I don't really know the science behind it and how it would affect things. I don't think any southeastern states have a spring season, but I'm not sure why that is. What I can tell you is that the politics surrounding bear hunting can be pretty explosive. Sometimes even a minor change in law can blow up with the general public on a slow news week, very similar to laws related to trapping.

 

[splatek]

Good point Charlie. i wonder if a push for a spring bear season would figuratively “poke the bear “ off the anti hunting community. Reds recently that California, like New Jersey is now under threat of getting rid of bear hunting all together.
I’m all for spring bear season but I think it’s a topic that has to be broached very carefully.

 

[strothershwacker]

California & New Jersey wanting to ban bear hunting is all the more reason to remind the public that black bear populations are healthy and growing and that spring bear is warranted. Or just be quiet and hope they don't spread their agenda here. Been to Helen lately? Read the bumper stickers. Better get proactive!

 

[strothershwacker]

California & New Jersey wanting to ban bear hunting is all the more reason to remind the public that black bear populations are healthy and growing and that spring bear is warranted. Or just be quiet and hope they don't spread their agenda here. Been to Helen lately? Read the bumper stickers. Better get proactive!

 

[ddd-shooter]

I appreciate the sentiment, but it's not really my place to do that. Something like that would likely originate in the legislature and they would seek the input of the bear biologist, not me the deer biologist (I'm not in law enforcement, so you don't have to refer to me as an officer).

While a spring season would be a great opportunity, I don't really know the science behind it and how it would affect things. I don't think any southeastern states have a spring season, but I'm not sure why that is. What I can tell you is that the politics surrounding bear hunting can be pretty explosive. Sometimes even a minor change in law can blow up with the general public on a slow news week, very similar to laws related to trapping.

Does the bear biologist see the comments we submitted during this process?

 

[splatek]

California & New Jersey wanting to ban bear hunting is all the more reason to remind the public that black bear populations are healthy and growing and that spring bear is warranted. Or just be quiet and hope they don't spread their agenda here. Been to Helen lately? Read the bumper stickers. Better get proactive!

I don;t read bumper stickers... I am not arguing for NOT being proactive, just putting the pieces together between this and the other post about the CNF and environmentalists. I think there should be and I would be happy if there was a short spring season, I just don't want to raise awareness about bear hunting to the wrong person that then goes crazy launching an attack. I feel like these anti-hunters tend to get more worked up and organize better than us hunters do. I think Charlie mentioned earlier that any new comments about new ideas are just pushed aside. That the public comment period is simply for making subtle variations to what is already a planned and approved outline. Any Spring season would not even be on the table until the next 2 year cycle, at the earliest and that's a lot of time for them folks to organize.

I think we are on the same page.

 

[Christian hughey]

I'm

I appreciate the sentiment, but it's not really my place to do that. Something like that would likely originate in the legislature and they would seek the input of the bear biologist, not me the deer biologist (I'm not in law enforcement, so you don't have to refer to me as an officer).

While a spring season would be a great opportunity, I don't really know the science behind it and how it would affect things. I don't think any southeastern states have a spring season, but I'm not sure why that is. What I can tell you is that the politics surrounding bear hunting can be pretty explosive. Sometimes even a minor change in law can blow up with the general public on a slow news week, very similar to laws related to trapping.

I apologize I assumed that the biologist were officers as well. Either way you all do a great job out there and the georgia deer woods are seeing the benefits of your hard labor. I would like to see the expanded opportunity and everyone we have on our side the better chance at having it pushed through. If dnr has a good reason for not doing this I'm sure they are doing what is right for the relatively small population. Just for my personal interest, who is the bear biologist in those parts? Do they have different individuals assigned to the central zone?

 

[C.Killmaster]

Does the bear biologist see the comments we submitted during this process?

Yes he does and I know he was at the Jefferson meeting. I haven't talked with him about a spring season, but any of you are welcome to reach out to him and ask why.

 

[C.Killmaster]

I'm
I apologize I assumed that the biologist were officers as well. Either way you all do a great job out there and the georgia deer woods are seeing the benefits of your hard labor. I would like to see the expanded opportunity and everyone we have on our side the better chance at having it pushed through. If dnr has a good reason for not doing this I'm sure they are doing what is right for the relatively small population. Just for my personal interest, who is the bear biologist in those parts? Do they have different individuals assigned to the central zone?

No worries, just wanted to let you know that I don't write tickets. Thanks for the kind words! The bear biologist is Adam Hammond. He may read the forum from time o time, but I don't know if he posts. Adam is the statewide bear biologist and coordinates data collection for all 3 populations, but the region biologists still have a lot to do with the bear hunts on WMAs.

 

[C.Killmaster]

I don;t read bumper stickers... I am not arguing for NOT being proactive, just putting the pieces together between this and the other post about the CNF and environmentalists. I think there should be and I would be happy if there was a short spring season, I just don't want to raise awareness about bear hunting to the wrong person that then goes crazy launching an attack. I feel like these anti-hunters tend to get more worked up and organize better than us hunters do. I think Charlie mentioned earlier that any new comments about new ideas are just pushed aside. That the public comment period is simply for making subtle variations to what is already a planned and approved outline. Any Spring season would not even be on the table until the next 2 year cycle, at the earliest and that's a lot of time for them folks to organize.

I think we are on the same page.

Given that a spring season would require a law change, it doesn't adhere to the 2-year regulation cycle like our hunting regulations. The legislature is in session starting mid-January each year. Here's the process for a law change:

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/about

 

[chrislibby88]

Given that a spring season would require a law change, it doesn't adhere to the 2-year regulation cycle like our hunting regulations. The legislature is in session starting mid-January each year. Here's the process for a law change:

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/about

We would probably be wise to organize a large group of support BEFORE people start emailing state reps about the season. A large petition would be a good show of support. And yes, the anti hunters would dog pile a spring bear initiative. From what I’ve heard they have been doing a great job of pooping on every effort to improve habitat on national forest in the past decade.

 

[Joe Brandon]

I would love a Spring hunt. Even if were a draw hunt with a points system. My only question is how would this coincide with turkey season? Would making it a bow only hunt be more accommodating to those turkey hunting? Lots of cool factors to throw around mull over. Very interesting concept.

 

[chrislibby88]

I would love a Spring hunt. Even if were a draw hunt with a points system. My only question is how would this coincide with turkey season? Would making it a bow only hunt be more accommodating to those turkey hunting? Lots of cool factors to throw around mull over. Very interesting concept.

Simple, stick it into the hog/coyote mini season. I can’t see folks supporting bear hunters running around turkey season. Those last days are gonna be sacred if we lose some days off the front end.

 

[Timberjack86]

Simple, stick it into the hog/coyote mini season. I can’t see folks supporting bear hunters running around turkey season. Those last days are gonna be sacred if we lose some days off the front end.

I think the rut towards the end of May early June anyway.

 

[Christian hughey]

We would probably be wise to organize a large group of support BEFORE people start emailing state reps about the season. A large petition would be a good show of support. And yes, the anti hunters would dog pile a spring bear initiative. From what I’ve heard they have been doing a great job of pooping on every effort to improve habitat on national forest in the past decade.

will never understand a group of people who have NO understanding of conservation and what we or DNR actually do for the habitat, health and well being of these different species. But yet they're voices are recognized before ours and most importantly the men and women that are hired and work hard everyday to protect the overall wellbeing of these critters. Hunting is natural, its part of life and has been around since the very beginning. I totally understand the push back on over hunting a certain species to the point its heard will never rebound but that's not what we are talking at all here. We want to see bear hunting opportunity in georgia expanded but not to the point of over harvest. I think a short bow season in late may to early June would fit perfect (maybe even wma's only) Dont think we would have a massive harvest and the antis should have less to say about state and federal run and managed properties. I'd sign that petition!!

 

[Christian hughey]

I think I will start a new thread just for fun and see how many would support and sign.

 

[chrislibby88]

will never understand a group of people who have NO understanding of conservation and what we or DNR actually do for the habitat, health and well being of these different species. But yet they're voices are recognized before ours and most importantly the men and women that are hired and work hard everyday to protect the overall wellbeing of these critters. Hunting is natural, its part of life and has been around since the very beginning. I totally understand the push back on over hunting a certain species to the point its heard will never rebound but that's not what we are talking at all here. We want to see bear hunting opportunity in georgia expanded but not to the point of over harvest. I think a short bow season in late may to early June would fit perfect (maybe even wma's only) Dont think we would have a massive harvest and the antis should have less to say about state and federal run and managed properties. I'd sign that petition!!

They just like doing ill-informed feel-good stuff. They don’t care or buy the whole hunting is conservation argument. Hunting is bad, deforestation is bad. Bears are cute, and nobody eats them.
The state doesn’t value their opinion over hunter opinion, the anti’s just so happen to yell the loudest, and it’s very easy to convince some cat lady in ATL with nothing but time to write and email about how the thought of bear hunting gives her PTSD.
Bear hunters are in the minority, and even hunters that support but don’t participate in bear hunting might not be interested in a spring season that could interfere with turkey season.
Another issue with a spring season is that a lot of nature lovers/bird watchers, and tree huggers are gonna be out hiking and doing strange things to holes in trees, and I definitely see some conflict arising as a scrappy looking mountain man packs a bloody bear hide past a family of democratic socialist on a bird watching hike on the Appalachian Trail.