Bear tag quotas for 2015

[hartman756]

I saw this post on the MS forum  and thought I would pass it along

Rooster Cogburn

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The NRC acted to increase the desired harvest in the Red Oak BMU for the 2015 bear season above the Wildlife Division's recommendation. They allocated 650 kill tags which they hope will limit the kill to 192 bears.

The Wildlife Division recommended 1,355 harvest tags be issued for the Baraga BMU which they believe would limit the harvest to 235 bears. The NRC increased the allocation of tags to 1,490 with an harvest of 260 bears.

As for the Bergland BMU, the Wildlife Division recommended 975 kill tags be issued with a desired harvest of 170 bears. The NRC opted to increase the tag allocation to 1,090 kill tags with an expected harvest of 190 bears.

I was told NRC Commissioner, J.R. Richardson stated during the March 19, 2015 NRC meeting, "his deer hunting buddies said there's all kinds of bears in the area." And, here I thought we could expect sound scientific management.

[ridge]

Did they increase the Gladwin Unit?  I will try to see if it has been put on the DNR site but they are very very slow to get things on site.  I love the statement about scientific management and the fact that the NRC seemed to act independently.  That could be a positive sign.

[hartman756]

Apr 15, 2015 17:01:40 GMT -5 ridge said:

Did they increase the Gladwin Unit?  I will try to see if it has been put on the DNR site but they are very very slow to get things on site.  I love the statement about scientific management and the fact that the NRC seemed to act independently.  That could be a positive sign.

That is all that was posted that I saw(and no further posts) so don't know about the Gladwin unit. As DaAppleknocker posted (if I remember right) the push for decreasing the bear permits was strictly "special interest" driven. So it appears the NRC didn't buy into their  agenda

[ridge]

I checked on the DNR site but as usual I could find nothing from the meeting.  The 2015 Guide which does not include the NRC changes states 90 permits which is lower than last year.  However hunters have not been taking many bears in our unit.  That is puzzling to me as we see bears all over the area.  It may be that hunters don't want to hunt this far south for bears.  It could be because there are no or few guides in this area and the hunters want more of a guaranteed hunt with a guide.  I just can't explain it.

[daappleknocker]

I can explain it Ridge. With the huge influence of "social science" our wildlife management is near the brink of being dysfunctional, especially deer and bear. 

Until I read the official MDNR-NRC decision I will keep my opinions to myself. I fought against any further reductions of bear licenses as they have been gutted in the last three years. I supported keeping the 2012 - 2014 reductions, against my better judgment, but felt another 1,110 lost opportunities was not good for the hunters or the resource.