Bear Baiting

“From the Bangor Daily News:
Bear Baiting: Bane or Boon?

Ice Tea, Pennsy and I were discussing this just last month. On one hand, I see the argument that it's not really a sporting way to kill a bear, since it's lured in. Then again, couldn't the same argument be made for deer hunting, because scents and calls are used? I don't know, I'm asking, since I don't deer hunt.”

“Beer baiting is safer...”

“I think we sould give the bears high powered weapons and flasks of bourbon, just to level the playing field.”

“Let 'em drink too. they can be as drunk as the hunters...”

“Hey I deer hunt and I don't use any of that crap. The only way I see baiting as fair, is if it was a means of survival. Where as kill the bear for meat or starve to death.”

“Artex the Unmerciful believes in rasslin up the game with his bare hands and breaking its neck. The boars last words were, "Let's dance!"”

“I believe, if there isn't a chance that you can lose the game, its not a sport.

Hunting like that is for #&%!$s! There I said it.

#&%!$ man, you got a big rifle with turbo charged scope and that bear has the same gear that its had for the last thousand years, claws and teeth.

I think it is just too easy to kill that way. Like really, unless you miss your mark, how often do you not get the beast.”

“I noticed that ever since Buddha Bear made his cryptic farewell post we haven't heard from ole' whatshizname (you know - that crazy guy).”

“That's why hunters get drunk, Tea. To at least give the ole bears a chance!”

“Oh wait... that kind of bear.”

“Not true V-man. Ol Whatsizname posted several times to Mrs. Chili about her husband's sinning ways (O the humanity!!!).

”

“Hey! I'm bear baiting here! Stop interfering!”

“You're baiting? Dang, I'm the one who has to keep posting the link to your helpful website! Minster Creek ain't been heard from since!”

“Yeah - I'm keeping him bottled up there.

*wiggle wiggle*”

“He still ain't the Buddha....”

“The difference between sport hunting and "harvesting".

Hunting to me, means finding the prey and getting close enough to take a shot, or learning enough about the animals habits that I can position myself such that the animal comes to me. But, I hunt for meat as a sport. I do not use any scents either attractants or masking.

Harvesting is treating the animal as no different from any other farm raised animal.
The Wildlife people 'farm' wildlife and are concerned with how many animals can live in a given area without starvation, and disease. Excess animals have to be removed, whether by hunters or rounded up and shipped to the slaughterhouse.

They have a budget, income from licences, and expenses with biologists and land purchases.

Prior to Wildlife management a lot of species were killed as nuisances, bears were killed as they were thought to be dangerous at all times.

As for the slippery slope argument, the Humane Society has described Archery as cruel and inhumane, and all fishing as cruel and inhumane. They also brought a lawsuit against a NJ homeowner who killed a rat they had trapped.
I mostly hunt with bow and arrows.

We all have our views of what is ethical, trouble starts when we impose our views on others.

As a backpacker and Boy Scout leader, I like Bears to be scared of people, mainly because I do not want to have to carry a gun on the trail. If killing over bait keeps them scared, as well as keeping a population alive, disease free, and fed, so I and others can see them in the wild OK.

I personally view that as farming not sporting.”

“Saltin` out a spot, or blowin` a deer grunt
baitin` weather fishin, or tryin` to hunt
it`s the differance in drivin` a car, or bein` a long-haul trucker
if you don`t do it yourself, what`s it matter to you silly phucker
I tend to do like a buzzard, I bide my time and make the most of it as I wait
but, I got no call against those that for a reson or another chose to use bait
I know this is gonna kick your skirt up over your head and it`s kinda blunt
phuck off you silly wannabes that wanna control hunters and you don`t even hunt”

“*”

“I also agree that it is not sport when you bait.I do like to deer hunt and hunt turkey and I do it the old school way sit on the ground and wait.


8)”

“I agree Francis!


8)”

“Hunters blamed for bears' candy addiction

ESPN Outdoors
Associated Press — Oct. 15, 2003

NAGS HEAD, N.C. — Hunters who bait bears with large blocks of candy are creating addicts with health problems ranging from tooth decay to lethargy, wildlife officials say.

Now the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission says wildlife officers will cite hunters who use salt, sugar, grain or other products to attract and shoot black bears. Especially under scrutiny are those who use large candy blocks.

The commission says bears become addicted to the blocks, returning to the area even after the sugar is gone.

Biologists found that addicted bears suffer from tooth decay, hair loss, weight loss and lethargy, said David Cobb, chief of the Wildlife Management Division of the Wildlife Resources Commission.

Cobb said wildlife officers first heard of the candy block practice three years ago.

"It's the most intense in Hyde County, but it's being done all over coastal North Carolina," he said.

The remote and heavily wooded Hyde County is known for some of the biggest black bears in the nation, drawing hundreds of out-of-state hunters. But because of an increasing bear population, hunting seasons have started in several other counties.

Though the North Carolina Bear Hunters Association opposes the use of candy blocks, the bait remains popular because of its low-cost effectiveness. The association's secretary, Richard Martin, said a $15 block can be up to four feet square and five feet deep and made of bubble gum, chocolate, licorice and hard candy. Some weigh more than 2,000 pounds.

Martin said many recent blocks have come from Hershey Foods in Pennsylvania. Cobb added that state officials have asked Hershey not to sell to bear hunters.

"Should we find out it's being used for that, we'll put a stop to it," said Hershey spokeswoman Christine Dugan. She added that the company has traditionally sold recycled chocolate in bulk to supplement animal feed.

Martin said some unscrupulous hunters use the blocks to guarantee shots at bears and then guide other hunters to the areas for a price.

"We don't need all the people in it for the money," Martin said. "It's supposed to be a sport."

It's not a sport if the blocks are used, Cobb said, because addicted bears have lost their fear of humans. Adult bears hang around the blocks, which he said is unusual behavior.

Violating the state's bear-baiting law is punishable by a two-year revocation of the hunting license, a fine of $2,000 or more and a $2,232 bear-replacement fee if the animal is killed.

Cobb once found a bear lying down in the middle of the road, moaning and unwilling to move out of the vehicle's way. He compared the image to that of humans addicted to cocaine.

A legal and accepted alternative is baiting with corn or peanut butter before the season, Martin said.

"It's good for them, and it works," he said”

“I'm not sure where I stand on baiting but I really, really want a one ton block of candy.”

“Tooooo bad you couldn`t bait management!!! You can only have your block of candy after my raise!!!”

“Let's see,,,,


.65 cent candy bar, weighing 4 oz. is what,,roughly $5,200 a ton....


and Hershey sells it to bear hunters for $15.....


I call bull#&%!$.”

“I sure with this said beer baiting...


Wait... Recycled chocolate?!?”

“mmmm, recycled chocolate!”

“POOP!”

“LOL!”

“Well, what do you know,,,Hershey's caught some bears .”

“I was hoping we were gonna tie Ohio Hick to a log and smear him with honey.”

“I thought maybe violin was just trolling again, but this is real... I want a candy block!

link”

“After seeing that photo of the candy block, maybe I don't want one after all.

”

“Well, yeah! You dpon't want AYthing after a bear's licked it!”

“Violin dig a cat hole next time.”

“OMG beer baiting for girls with beer works...just ask crazy mike...He promises me beer just to return to him! WOOHOO!”

“You've really taken that handle?

Obsess much?”

“LMAO He asked me to use it pheadrus :) HE BEGGED me :)”

“Uhhhh huh.

I don't want to know what else he begged for. In fact, I don't want to think about it. Please move on.”

“Now go away before I taunt you a second time.”

“LMAO @ bp!”

“"After seeing that photo of the candy block, maybe I don't want one after all.

"
UnDeAd fLeSh EaTiNg ViOLiN
12:32:31 PM
10/17/03

Is that what Violin found in his pack?????? No wonder he was pi$$ed.”