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