Oklahoma Wildlife Officials are considering expanding Bear hunting by eliminating quotas during the Archery season and putting a 20 Bear quota on an expanded time frame muzzleloading season..........Wildlife Officials feel that the Bear population is growing and that under current rules, pregnant sows are more likely to be killed due to hunters feeling that they are literally under a short time constraint before a halt is ordered to cease and desist all shooting--therefore no discretion on what is shot, male or female...........From 20 bears in 2009, to 30 to 32 bears taken this current season,....... either hunters are becoming quite expert or perhaps there are more bears in the State than previously thought..............estimates range from 450 to 800 bears in the Southern portion of Oklahoma.

Input sought on bear hunting changes in Oklahoma

By KELLY BOSTIAN




Oklahoma has been slow and conservative getting into black bear hunting. Now state wildlife professionals are proposing a longer season - and they say they are still being conservative.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in its annual Title 800 rule-making process is requesting public views through Jan. 13 on a host of proposed wildlife regulations changes. Through a simple online form, by regular mail or in two public meetings, individuals are asked to offer their perspectives on changes to hunting and fishing regulations that may be approved for 2012 by the state Wildlife Commission.

. While other states that have opened bear seasons have had trouble with protests and lawsuits, Oklahoma's season opened in 2009 with relatively little objection. "We were careful and we were conservative," said Wildlife Department Chief Alan Peoples. "You've got to have the research and a well thought-out plan. We delayed for several years studying and planning until we were ready, and I think that's why it was not challenged. ... We did have two or three organizations that questioned it, but once they had all the facts they didn't challenge it."

The hunt has run three years as an archery or muzzleloader hunt limited to four counties in southeast Oklahoma; Latimer, LaFlore, Pushmataha and McCurtain. A quota of 20 bears was set, and hunting was to stop as soon as state biologists physically checked in 20 bears. If the quota was not met then it was to continue into muzzleloader season under the same quota.

 In 2009, only 19 bears were killed in a season that stretched through the two-week muzzleloader timeframe. But the next year 32 fell in one day and it was closed in 24 hours. This year, hunters killed 31 bears and the season closed after 48 hours. Each hunter can take only one bear.

The hunting season results and field reports from hunters confirmed for biologists what they suspected about Oklahoma's bears. "We have a heck of a bunch more than we thought we had," Peoples said.

The proposal now on the table would ask the Wildlife Commission to eliminate the archery season quota and keep the season open until the third Sunday in October. It would also ask the commission to establish a muzzleloader season with a 20-bear quota.

Peoples said a longer season would allow hunters to be more selective. The pressure of knowing the season might close in 24 hours pushes hunters to kill the first bear they see, he said.
"Just like in deer hunting, if you're going to be selective you're going to have to have a little more time to do it. We don't want hunters to shoot the sows and the smaller bears so much," he said.

Peoples said he believes the fast seasons were a product of the rush hunters felt under the quota deadline and also a function of the weather. The first year the weather was more typical, and when the season opened acorns were falling and berries were ripening. Bears left artificial bait stations to dine on natural foods and they were harder to find. But 2010 and 2011 were dry and natural food sources were lacking.

Depending on weather, the harvest totals might be the same or less than past years under the new rules. But even if it goes up substantially he's not worried. "Research shows you can take 20 percent of the population through hunting and not have a biological impact," he said. "Twenty bears is a lot less, a whole lot less, than 20 percent of the population."

Most pressure on the department regarding bears now is from hunters in adjacent counties who want the bear season to encompass a wider area, Peoples said. "We're not going to do that yet," he said. "We're going to do the planning and not get in a big hurry. ... I feel confident that someday we might, but we're not going to do it until we're ready."

To read about proposed changes and make comments see the online form at tulsaworld.com/wildlife Mail comments to the Wildlife Department at P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Public meetings about proposed changes are set for 7 p.m. Jan. 10: one in Poteau at the Kiamichi Technology Center, 1509 S. McKenna, and one in Oklahoma City at the Wildlife Department headquarters, 1801 N. Lincoln Blvd.