I am opposed to the Spring…

I am opposed to the Spring Bear Hunt for a number of reasons as outlined below:

1. It results in orphaned cubs. Female bears get shot as hunters do not identify them properly and kill them in error. I don't feel bear cubs should be collateral damage. Despite the threat of large fines, regulations prohibiting harvesting of females accompanied by cubs are unenforceable, as they were up to 1999 when the original spring season was cancelled.

2. Female bears could be identified if the bait was hung at a height. But it isn't. When the bait is hung at a height the hunter can identify it as a female and not shoot. Please see attached paper. Also, how are fines going to be enforced? Is the hunter who has just killed a female going to self-report? It will not work as a deterrent.

3. There is already a fall bear hunt. We do not need to have two times of the year to hunt bears. It is overkill. Research has shown that hunters do not tend to hunt twice a year. They hunt in the spring or the fall. Therefore, having a hunt at two times of the year is not necessary.

4. I do not feel that the anticipated environmental consequences of the proposal are expected to be neutral. If there is a hunt both seasons the environmental consequences will not be neutral.

Thank you.