I am very much opposed to…

I am very much opposed to the proposed reduction to the minimum distance for bait for black bear hunting. It seems the main (and only?) rationale for this change is some mysterious positive economic benefit in that the “reduction in bait placement distance restrictions will enable tourist outfitters that provide bear hunting services to better plan and manage their operations for clients.” Seriously???? Doesn’t this just mean the outfitters and hunters won’t have to walk as far? And doesn’t enticing bears closer to trails and rights of way increase the likelihood of bear-human interactions, never mind bringing hunters and their weapons closer to other people using the trails. How can this be anything but a danger to to the general public?

Making it easier for hunters to kill bears with this proposal, on top of the recently-resurrected spring bear hunt, seems like a step in the wrong direction as far as wildlife “management” goes.