The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) adopted amendments to black bear hunting regulations at its April 15-16 meeting, raising the bear harvest limit to two. The Commission also heard the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) presentation on its evaluation of 10 petitions proposing modifications to or creation of new marine protected areas (MPA). CDFW evaluated the petitions based on the best available science and using the Commission-approved MPA petition evaluation framework, recommending the Commission deny the petitions or grant in concept while offering non-regulatory pathways to achieve some of the petitioned goals.
In addition to action allowing up to two bear hunting license tags in a year, the Commission adopted regulation amendments redefining hunt area boundaries to include the entirety of Lassen and Modoc counties. No change was proposed to the 1,700-bear harvest threshold that was last reached in 2012, and if reached this year, would close the season. CDFW scientists expect the regulation changes to result in the take of 100 to 200 more bears each season out of a population estimated at about 60,000 across the state’s bear habitats.
