Efforts are underway to bring black bear hunting season back to Louisiana. A hearing will be held at The Louisiana Wildlife Commission’s November meeting. After being on the endangered species list, Commission member Joe McPherson said a recent report indicates there’s a viable black bear population in Louisiana.
“We think that now a hunting season is in order. This is a game animal it’s considered a trophy animal, so we want to offer that opportunity to sportsmen,” said McPherson.
There’s been an effort to reinstate the season after the species all but disappeared in the 1950s and 1960s. State Wildlife said today the black bear population in Louisiana is just over 12 hundred. McPherson said lawmakers have even sponsored legislation to bring the hunting season back.
“So, it’s got good legislative support. We know that it’s go broad public support through the hunting community,” said McPherson.
McPherson said there’s even a Facebook page dedicated to Louisiana Black Bears that shows deer camera footage of their presence.
McPherson said if the commission chooses to bring black bear hunting season back it wouldn’t be until the 2024-2025 season. He said it will be a limited hunt so not many animals will be taken initially.
“And it will be strictly controlled and hopefully this will be one of Louisiana’s success stories similar to bringing back the wild alligator,” said McPherson.
Louisiana’s black bear was removed from the endangered species list in 2015, but there’s an ongoing lawsuit from Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility challenging the removal.
The next commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 2, 2023.
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