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Bear hunters make a statement about guided hunts

UPDATE:  House Natural Resources Committee has SB 590, the bill to authorize guided bear hunts on the agenda for Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Government Organization Committee Room.

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Bear Hunters Association wanted to make a statement at Sunday’s winter meeting of the West Virginia Natural Resources Commission. Mission accomplished.

Clad in blaze orange and in some cases camo, well over 200 bear hunting enthusiasts packed a meeting room at the South Charleston Holiday Inn, standing shoulder to shoulder against the idea of guided bear hunts in West Virginia.

“Senate Bill 590 was back-doored, didn’t go through usual bill-drafting and bill origination. I twas dirty politics at its best.” said Don Radcliff, past president of the group. “What part of, ‘We don’t want this.’ Do you not understand?”

Radcliff’s remarks were met with thunderous applause in the room after he directed them straight at Senator Mark Maynard of Wayne County. Maynard, chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, originated the bill in his committee and spoke in favor of it on the floor of the Senate and it narrowly passed.

Mark Maynard

Maynard, who sat on the front row,  was the target of several more remarks during the day along with his sister and brother-in-law who own Elk Springs Resort.

“This bill was back doored because of Ellie May Outfitters and Elk Springs Resort,” said Bear Hunters President Eric Beck. “They’ve leased up 6,000 acres on the Back Fork. Right now Pardee-Curtin has 150,000 acres anybody can hunt, but they said if they have the opportunity to lease it to a guide and make money they would.”

Although narrowly crafted toward West Virginia hunters only, the bear hunters organization feared the bill would be a start and not an end.

“It’s just a foot in the door.   We know down the road they’ll amend it and change it and the next thing you know the only way you’ll be able to hunt a bear is with a guide,” said Radcliff. “I’ve seen the same thing int he state of Maine.  We don’t want any bill, period.”

Many others in the crowd strolled to the podium to echo the remarks of Beck and Radcliff. Among them was Shawna Cogar from Webster County. With a dog lead in her hand she too stirred the crowd.

“Senator Maynard I heard you say this was a hobby, it’s not a hobby, it’s a way of life for us,” she said. “This is a foot in the door. We know that.. We do not want guided bear hunting. Bear hunting is not a hobby, it’s a way of life.”

Maynard was given the podium at the conclusion of the public remarks. He addressed the crowd which was angry, but although not hostile.

“I’m use

Steven McDaniel

d to controversy, I’ve dealt with the teacher strike last two years. I do hate it for my sister and brother-in-law, who are avid sportsmen and want what is good for West Virginia. They live in Kentucky and this is for West Virginia.” he explained.

“I love your passion. I can tell you 100 percent that I never intended to affect your life. But we’re trying to give opportunity to the state and for you to get something out of it,” Maynard continued.

At one point Maynard offered sportsmen should trust the DNR, which resulted in an angry shout from the crowd.

“We don’t trust YOU!”

“I’m sorry, if I’ve offended anyone here,” Maynard concluded his remarks.

DNR Director Steven McDaniel told the group while they had taken a hard line against the idea of baiting bears, the agency remained neutral on the idea of guided bear hunts.

“If I get asked by legislators to provide language, we’re going to do it every time. Want to make sure if a bill gets introduced,

Delegate Jason Harshbarger (R-Ritchie, 07)

biologists get the ability to have input,” McDaniel explained. “If a bear guiding bill gets passed, biologists would get to make the call on whether it would be done and where it would be done. It would only be used to reduce bear populations in those ares we have determined we need fewer bears.”

McDaniel also explained the logic of guide qualification and drawing for permits to hunt.

“We would get all the rule-making authority. Even if we have that season, hunters would have to apply to get permits and so would guides,” he explained. “They would have to draw every two years and there would be no guarantee they would get it. That would deter people from leasing up large tracts of land if they couldn’t be guaranteed a license to guide bear hunts.”

The next step for the bill will be up to the House of Delegates. Delegate Jason Harshbarger, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee was also on hand and also addressed the crowd. He thanked them for their passion and their respectful opposition. He hadn’t made up his mind on running the bill.

“Part of me wants to run it just to hear the discussion,” he said after the meeting. “That way, my committee members may come up with questions or thoughts that I haven’t thought of or the bear hunters haven’t thought of. I know it’s a hot topic, but I’d just like to have the discussion, and if it goes down in my committee, it goes down in my committee.”





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