Oldtimr

Yep, Salty, if the change was because of a drop in population, the best way to address it would be by reducing the number of hunters by reducing the number of licenses sold. That is how it happened in PA. when the separate bear license first came on the scene, there was a limited number sold. That number increased and eventually the number of licenses was unlimited again. The money for the bear license while not earmarked specifically for bear research and management but it did defray the cost. Of course the reason for the license is speculation for our conversation because the OP didn't give the reason their Directors gave for the move. If it was because a drop in population, there is only two ways to reduce harvest, limit the numbers of days of a season or limit the number of license available. It would be interesting to know the for the change. Funny thing in PA, before the special license there was only a relatively small hardcore group of bear hunters in PA because bear hunting in PA is a lot of work. After the separate license came on the scene, the number of bear hunters increased and we have more bears in our state than you can shake a stick at. Last year the bear harvest was 33 hundred and change, 41 over 500 lbs and 3 over 600 lbs. The highest ever was 2011 of 43 hundred and change.