once bear populations start to pick up they must be aggressively managed, my great uncle hunted here his whole life, was a regular member of the bear hunters in the area, in 60 years of hunting he took 2 bears, I started bear hunting in 1978, killed my first in 1984, the population exploded in the 90's killed 12 more and just go hunting to hang out with friends, don't want anymore, and we still have way to many bears today. good luck fl hunters, whack'em and stack'em
RR

As is usually the case with dangerous game here in the lower 48 anyway; they wait until people start getting killed in their own backyards before they allow us to hunt them.

Even the Dept. of Fish & Game seem to hide the facts from the general public until it's to late !!!

I personally wouldn't call Black Bear "Dangerous Game" Sheridan. They are extremely shy and easily scared off. Of course you have those VERY rare instances where one will attack but that is pretty much ANY animal of a predatory nature. I have more fear of "domesticated" dogs than I do of a wild black bear. I've encountered hundreds of Black Bear in the woods and never once has one offered to charge. Browns on the other hand is a whole different story. They do typically run off as well but they are much more inclined to charge than a Black.

For those who might read this thread - PLEASE be aware that a black bear with cubs will attack ANYTHING she feels might threaten her cubs.

I call that "Dangerous Game" !!!

http://1source.basspro.com/index.php...-north-america

There is a difference between "Dangerous Game" and a "Dangerous Animal". Dangerous Game can and more than likely will charge and attack where a dangerous animal (pretty much anything with teeth that weighs over 50 pounds) will USUALLY only charge or attack when threatened or cornered. 90% of the time a Sow Black with cubs will ONLY charge if there is NO way out other than through you. They will take their cubs out opposite the direction of perceived danger. I've been in Black Bear territory most all of my life. Played with cubs and stomped at Sows chasing them away from camp more times than I can count. People gather the VERY few instances where Blacks attack and create panic against an animal that is quite docile and shy for the most part. Swell up, Stand up, and NEVER turn your back to a Black and 99.9% of the time they will go the opposite direction. And that link you provided is seriously incorrect on both weight (they say the blacks AVERAGE between 600-800 pounds) as well as there attack average. You would be VERY hard pressed to find 600-800 pound black bears in the lower 48 and that attack average is so incorrect it's not even funny. They have taken attacks from one state (Alaska) that's not even in the lower 48 and averaged them into the nation as a whole. And those attacks in Alaska are more the peoples own fault with not handling their trash properly and allowing a NORMALLY shy animal to get accustomed to humans and losing their natural fear.

That kind of stuff doesn't happen in JUST Alaska anymore............

Occurrences in neighborhoods across America now.


They are wild dangerous animals !

As are any ones you mentioned that weight-in & have teeth.


As outdoors-men hopefully we have learned to take nothing for granted !!!