Well, you know... I don't remember reading in the regs that you can't feed bears prior to the season so this seems like they're taking advantage of a loop hole.

They feed the bears (without hunting them) prior to the season so the bears develop a pattern. They take the food away the night before and hunt the following day in the hops that the bears will return for the food they're used to getting.

I don't think this is an issue of legality but more of ethics.

I wouldn't do it. [:'(]