The RGJ reports that 17 bears — 11 male and 6 female — have been killed thus far in the 2014 Nevada bear hunt. Since the Nevada Department of Wildlife reports Nevada’s bear population is 2:1 male/female ratio, hunters have half the chance of encountering a female. It appears then that Nevada bear hunters demonstrate as much preference for killing females as males, a fact not presented in NDOW’s reporting of the numbers.
Since it is scientifically verifiable that most females when pursued place their cubs in a tree and continue running as decoy, it can also be assumed that Nevada bear hunters when taking females are willing to orphan cubs who will then starve or be left defenseless to be killed by predators.
NDOW has established that the hunt is not necessary from a management point of view, but simply exists to provide hunter opportunity.
The Nevada bear hunt is shameful and should be below the dignity of ethical Nevada sportsmen, Gov. Sandoval and the Nevada Wildlife Commission.
Kathryn Bricker, Zephyr Cove
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ABOUT
NoBearHuntNV is a broad coalition of individuals and organizations opposed to the recently passed regulation allowing Nevada’s small bear population to be hunted. Historically, bears in NV have been protected, until in 2011 the State Wildlife Commission passed a regulation allowing an inaugural bear hunt.
Public opposition to the hunt was overwhelming. Ninety-seven percent of the public comments received by the Commission opposed the hunt, yet the nine members Governor -appointed Commission ignored the public and ruled in favor of the interests of a handful of sport trophy hunters.
While hunters comprise only two percent of Nevada’s population, they control one hundred percent of the decisions regarding wildlife management, as a result of successfully lobbying for laws which assure their majority vote on any decision.
Recognizing the statutory disparity between the public trust doctrine, in which the wildlife of Nevada belongs equally to all citizens, and laws excluding members of the general public from serving on policy setting boards and commissions in any substantive manner, NoBearHuntNV formed as a grass roots organization opposing both the bear hunt and the lack of democratic representation in wildlife management.
ORGANIZATION
NoBearHuntNV registered with the State as a non profit corporation in March, 2011, after meeting informally since November, 2010. All Board of Directors and Officers positions are served by volunteers. The organization is funded entirely by tax-deductible private donations.
Membership is open and includes a broad spectrum of citizens including hunters and non-hunters, Republicans, Independents and Democrats; rural and urban Nevadan’s spanning the state, all of whom share the traditional Nevada values, whereby bears have been protected from hunting.
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