New WNC black bear, deer hunting seasons pass despite public disapproval

ASHEVILLE — In its Feb. 22 meeting, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission voted to adopt proposed rule changes for the upcoming hunting season, including a measure that will significantly expand the length of black bear hunting in the mountain region.

The commission voted to adopt a total of 36 changes to regulations, after making a few amendments. The newly approved wildlife commission rules include adjustments to the bear and deer hunting seasons, as well as a reclassification of what it means to be hunting under the influence.

The governing body, which is required to get public comment on any regulation changes, “received over 1,400 responses and over 650 comments for the proposed changes,” according to spokesperson Anna Gurney.

The bear hunting expansion — which will add nine days to the season and create Saturday openers for the two segments — was met with the most public input by a landslide, with 69% of the 646 respondents saying they do not support the change. Yet, this changed pass the commission’s vote as written.

“I was not surprised whatsoever that the Wildlife Commission went ahead and adopted these proposals,” said Bill Lea, a retired U.S. Forest Service employee and bear photographer for over 30 years. “They have to get public input, but they don’t have to listen.”

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What concerns were raised?

Many of the public comments raised potential issues with having an overlap of bear and deer hunting during the second segment of bear season. Some suggested this will lead to bear dogs being shot, the illegal taking of deer using bear dogs, less opportunity for young hunters to bag a deer and even violent disputes.

“The opening of gun season on Thanksgiving week has been a standing tradition for young hunters, who are out of school, to hunt with adults in rifle season,” one anonymous public commenter wrote. “To change season to where deer and bear coincide, would lead to either running deer with dogs or bear dogs being shot by deer hunters.”

Brad Stanback, the District 9 commissioner for the most western part of WNC, including Buncombe County, told the Citizen Times March 4 that the season overlap issue was mostly a trade-off between concerns of bear hunters and deer hunters, making it impossible to please both sides. When that happens, Stanback said he gives “more credence” to the commission biologists’ recommendations.

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“At our WRC meeting a couple weeks ago, I actually voiced the concern that we proposed rules, held hearings and accepted public comments, and then mostly ignored the comments and passed the rules as proposed,” Stanback said over email.

Stanback highlighted how the two seasons have overlapped in other parts of the state “for years with no conflicts.” He also said they received comments from bear hunters stating they didn’t see any potential conflict because bear hunters typically stay in more remote areas than deer hunters.

“A lot of the ‘disapprove’ comments came from outside of District 9 and a substantial number of them were from anti-hunters who do not want to see bear hunting happen at all,” Stanback said. “Their concerns seem to be more of a political issue that could be taken up by the NC General Assembly rather than a wildlife management issue in the jurisdiction of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.”

What changes were made?

In response to public input, Stanback said the N.C. WRC made an adjustment to hunting regulations for white-tailed deer to allow for Youth Hunting Days.

The start date for deer gun season will remain as proposed, changing from the traditional Monday before Thanksgiving to the Saturday after Thanksgiving in Western North Carolina counties. However, the amendment will allow youth hunters under the age of 18 to hunt deer on Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after. The season will run through Jan. 1.

Black bear hunting will expand by nine days in October with Saturday openers as proposed, instead of beginning on Mondays as the season traditionally has. Depending on specific location, the second segment will start on a Saturday after Thanksgiving and run through the beginning of January. Bear hunters will also be able to use unprocessed bait during the second segment of the mountain bear season.

Stanback previously told the Citizen Times that the bear population in the mountains is growing 7% each year. The growing bear population is causing problems, such as roadkill becoming a major source of bear mortality, he said.

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“That’s not only a significant waste but also a problem for human safety and property damage,” Stanback said. Regarding the expansion, he said “We would prefer that more bears get killed by licensed hunters rather than by motor vehicles.”

Lea brought up concern that starting the bear hunting season earlier will infringe on tourist season for fall foliage, causing more people to be out in the woods and “exposed to packs of hunting dogs.” He also suggested that opening the season earlier will cause more pregnant female bears to be killed.

“Mother bears that are going to give birth go into their winter den earlier. So traditionally, the season started a little bit later so as not to target pregnant bears,” Lea said. “By opening up early, there will be a greater percentage of those mother bears that have not gone into their dens.”

Lea clarified that he isn’t against hunting bears but takes issue with the brutality of bear hunting with dogs and has concern about how expanding the season earlier in the year will exacerbate potential harms to the animals and humans.

“The longer bear season will probably result in more bears being taken, and a certain percentage of them will be pregnant females,” Stanback said March 4. “But the extension of the bear season is in the first segment. Pregnant females tend to den earlier than males, but that would only impact the second segment of the bear season.”

Before these new rules become effective on Aug. 1, they will be filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings and go before the N.C. Rules Review Commission for approval, according to Gurney.

If the review commission receives 10 or more letters requesting legislative review for any of the Wildlife Commission rules, implementation will be delayed until the body decides if the rule should be approved.

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Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NC Wildlife passes bear hunting expansion despite public disapproval