By Douglas Boze

April 21st 2022 was an amazing day for bear hunters nationwide, but especially for our Californian brothers and sisters. The California Fish and Game Commission voted 4-0 to dismiss the Humane Society of the United States petition for an all-out ban on bear hunting. But there is more to it than that simple punchline.

The petition was originally submitted by the HSUS last year and it slowly made its way through the process, only to be decided on that fateful April day. There were 150 plus people waiting on Zoom to speak (I being one of them) and several more in person ready to stand up to the tyrannical demands of the HSUS. Pro hunting testimony outnumbered the antihunters 3 to 1. An amazing show of strength no doubts due in part to Howl for Wildlife (@howl_org on Instagram) as well as the Hunting Aint Easy podcast and several others too numerous to mention. Several other outdoor organizations like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation had a presence too.

My personal tale for this day was a “hurry up and wait” situation. I was on the Zoom call from 08:30am 4:30 before I was allowed to speak for my one-minute slot. I am proud to have seen and heard so many others stay online as well as make the trek to speak in person, donating their entire day for the chance to stand up for bear hunting. It was encouraging to say the least. This is what we need, numbers and the willingness to speak in favor of our hunting heritage.

The day of watching Zoom really got good, near the end, when the HSUS rep gave her presentation prior to the vote for the petition. She brought up climate change (of course, since its responsible for everything, even the holes in my socks), fires (which, low grade fires were deemed beneficial to bear by the departments biologists’ presentation), the need for better science and the term “trophy hunters”, which is key. This was an attempt to demonize bear hunters as individuals who do nothing more than shoot a bear and take the hide or worse yet, a single photo. Once she sat down, the term “trophy hunters” was brought into question by the commission. Since the definition by the HSUS rep of trophy hunting was any hunter who took any part of the animal and a photograph, that would make all of us trophy hunters I am willing to bet. But clarification was wanted and asked for by the commission and readily answered by in person fellow hunters, perfectly might I add.

It was explained that it is illegal to waste the game meat, it is required to take it and that it is quite delectable. The icing on the cake was the Californian game warden who then chimed in and reaffirmed this statement, effectively issuing a kill shot right to the boiler room of the “trophy hunter” argument. Stunningly, and to my out loud laughter of the question while watching on Zoom, Commissioner Sklar even asked the HSUS rep the question, “What would the Humane Societies position be if there were 50,000 bear (in California)? Would it be against hunting entirely? And is that a position you would take?” (Side notes here, it is estimated, using three different tests, that the bear population in Cali is 35K and that is likely underestimated. It was reassured that the population is steady and growing at 300 bear per year with a harvest of under 5% of the total population and no evidence of a steep decline.)

The HSUS response to the 50,000 bear population question was fantastic for our side, as she saidwhat we already know and replied, “Are we ever going to be in favor of bear trophy hunting? No. The Humane Society of the United States will not support bear trophy hunting.” Meaning, no matter how well the bear population is doing, no matter the science provided, regardless of hunters taking the meat for use, despite any “pause” in the hunt to make sure things are going well for bear, they will not be in favor of bear hunting. We know this, they finally admitted it instead of staying behind the guise of “pausing the hunt” until the science is right. A pause of any hunt by the Humane Society is nothing more than a means to an end, a way to get the ball rolling in their direction. 

Having gone through the trials of the Washington spring bear drama these past 6 months (which we all know was recently “paused” to get more “science”), I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised by a fish and game commission in a very liberal state pay attention to and believing in,the science provided by their excellent biologists and presentations. Closing statements by the Commissioner Murray was spot on, stating, “I also believe in hunting and think it’s a natural way to get meat. I know for sure that hunting and fishing are important ways for young people and people to connect with nature and cultivate a healthy respect and love of the outdoors.” Additionally, she added, “Most people don’t hunt, most people don’t fish, doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t have the ability to do it.” I would say that several on the Fish and Wildlife Game Commission in Washington could learn a thing or two from this prime example of wildlife leadership supplied by the California Game Commission.

So, for now, bear hunting is California is safe and proceeding as it should. Is this the end of our struggle against the HSUS, Center for Biodiversity and the like? Not by any means. I can assure you this defeat is little more than another way for them to glean money from their members to help line the pockets of the executives and not benefit habitat, wildlife management and overall health and stability of beloved wildlife.  So once again, we are called upon to guard the gate. They have been repelled in California but will likely attack again. Be ready.