Grizzly shot in Idaho GMU 6 by black bear hunter.

Griz in Unit 6. Who woulda thunk it. Got my first black bear in that unit back in the 1980s. The video makes it pretty clear: Immature grizzly. Looks like IFG needs to up its training course for staff and hunters alike. Since I'm here, let me start a fight: bear baiting in grizzly country (or potential grizzly country) is bad news, especially in the lower 48 where there is bound to be a house over the next ridge, or closer. Change my mind.
One argument for baiting in these areas is that you have a better opportunity to properly identify your target in order to prevent this exact situation from occurring. I guess this specific case makes that argument questionable. As for proximity to houses, there is plenty of space out there to select bait sites that are away from residences. There are already requirements about proximity of bait sites to water, solid waste sites, etc. Add a regulation that specifies distance from any residential building. As with all hunting regulations the issue is enforcement.
 
One argument for baiting in these areas is that you have a better opportunity to properly identify your target in order to prevent this exact situation from occurring. I guess this specific case makes that argument questionable. As for proximity to houses, there is plenty of space out there to select bait sites that are away from residences. There are already requirements about proximity of bait sites to water, solid waste sites, etc. Add a regulation that specifies distance from any residential building. As with all hunting regulations the issue is enforcement.
Yeah, you're right in that there are ways to mitigate the risk. And I see your point that it allows the hunter to be more selective. But to me, bottom line is, you're feeding a grizzly unnaturally. Grizzlies are a lot more defensive of food sources than black bears are, so a hunter is putting himself and maybe others into harms way just with that. Second, if bears begin to associate food with humans they will seek out humans looking for more food. That's dangerous. Here in Montana, FWP spends a ton of money and energy trying to convince people NOT to feed bears, on purpose or inadvertently. Grizzly bears have enormous home ranges, so I'm not sure how big a buffer zone rural home would need, but it would be big. As I said, I'm pro- bear hunting and have hunted black bears over bait and spot-and-stalk in the Idaho Panhandle. I'm just pointing out a real conflict here that will be hard to address if grizzlies continue to expand into Idaho.
 
Ive never been a fan of baiting bears for hunting. I understand the pros and cons of it, just not my cup of tea. Not enough, or any, fair chase involved. That said, the videos clearly showed a young grizzly to me. Harder to identify due to its age, but the face, legs, and coloration were clues. Crazy that the IDFG got it wrong, and the hunter should have trusted his instincts when he asked for a second opinion. Watching the young griz run off a bigger black bear was another clue, as well as the looks of both bears in the same video. Glad hes not being charged.
 
Add a regulation that specifies distance from any residential building. .
already exists, has to be at least half a mile from a “dwelling”. Also includes designated campgrounds, picnic areas or administrative sites
 
Griz in Unit 6. Who woulda thunk it. Got my first black bear in that unit back in the 1980s. The video makes it pretty clear: Immature grizzly. Looks like IFG needs to up its training course for staff and hunters alike. Since I'm here, let me start a fight: bear baiting in grizzly country (or potential grizzly country) is bad news, especially in the lower 48 where there is bound to be a house over the next ridge, or closer. Change my mind.
Also the note in the Regs that electronic calls may be used.
 
Ive never been a fan of baiting bears for hunting. I understand the pros and cons of it, just not my cup of tea. Not enough, or any, fair chase involved. That said, the videos clearly showed a young grizzly to me. Harder to identify due to its age, but the face, legs, and coloration were clues. Crazy that the IDFG got it wrong, and the hunter should have trusted his instincts when he asked for a second opinion. Watching the young griz run off a bigger black bear was another clue, as well as the looks of both bears in the same video. Glad hes not being charged.
Bear baiting is a LOT of work. I've tried it a time or two. I've never had an ATV, so carrying all the stuff into the woods and keeping the bait fresh is above my work/reward ratio.

Now if you are a NR wanting to see a lot of bears and the outfitter is doing all the work, Heck yeah.

I too am not sold on making this the fault of IDFG. The story doesn't really tell us who at IDFG reviewed the video. Bio? CO? Receptionist? Who knows.
Ultimately shoot/don't shoot lies squarely on the hunter, not the agency. No doubt IDFG will now have to spend a bunch of money on this to avoid a CBD lawsuit.
 
Yeah, you're right in that there are ways to mitigate the risk. And I see your point that it allows the hunter to be more selective. But to me, bottom line is, you're feeding a grizzly unnaturally. Grizzlies are a lot more defensive of food sources than black bears are, so a hunter is putting himself and maybe others into harms way just with that. Second, if bears begin to associate food with humans they will seek out humans looking for more food. That's dangerous. Here in Montana, FWP spends a ton of money and energy trying to convince people NOT to feed bears, on purpose or inadvertently. Grizzly bears have enormous home ranges, so I'm not sure how big a buffer zone rural home would need, but it would be big. As I said, I'm pro- bear hunting and have hunted black bears over bait and spot-and-stalk in the Idaho Panhandle. I'm just pointing out a real conflict here that will be hard to address if grizzlies continue to expand into Idaho.
I think social tolerance for grizzly bears will decline if their presence has an impact on traditional use practices. Idaho has had black bear baiting seasons in areas with known grizzly bear populations for decades with very little direct grizzly bear mortality (actual hunter killed bears). I am not privileged with the data to show if black bear baits have led to food habituated bears that later had to be relocated or lethally removed. I am very aware of how this case can and will be used by antihunters to make the case not only against baiting in areas with grizzly bears but having a black bear season at all. After all, here we had IDFG employees/experts/officials misidentify a grizzly bear leading to mortality, how then can we trust the average joe hunter to make that identification in the field; some will say it is better to not have black bear seasons at all in order to protect grizzly bears. I prefer education and other methods to mitigate the risk.

Even though IDFG screwed up on this one it was still the hunter that misidentified the bear and pulled the trigger, he should have been charged. Not charging the hunter damages the public image of the state's ability to manage grizzly bears.
 
This is the first year I baited, in this area we have a ton of grizzlies. Had a big black bear coming into the bait and then a young grizzly showed up. Then everyone stopped coming as soon as a big grizzly showed up. I stopped baiting as no other bear would come in. I sat it early when the black bear was around, but the grizzly came in. I was about 80yrds away and once he came in i watched for a little bit and left before dark.

I am a little surprised that he didn't have a trail camera on the bait so he could get a better picture to ID the bear.
 
I'm not that motivated to shoot a bear. If I have any doubts its a no shoot situation.

20 years ago I watched a cinnamon at 75 yards across a steep Idaho creek. The bear was sitting on its haunches watching me back. This went on for several minutes. Something didn't feel right. I finally convinced myself I wanted the bear. I had just taken the safety off and then saw movement with my off scope eye. Two cubs came out of the brush. Game over.

Coming that close to a difficult chat with a Conservation Officer has left a lasting impression on me.

I wonder if the recent media-driven rise in Spring Bear hunting contributes to performance pressure to some hunter.
I was amazed at the speed a lot of the areas in Montana were closed out. Granted, this was my first year following it closely. My initial reaction was many people are shooting the first bear they see. Not sure my opinion has changed.

I've also been tainted. I've been watching Wardens on YouTube. Both Montana and California 😎
 
This is the first year I baited, in this area we have a ton of grizzlies. Had a big black bear coming into the bait and then a young grizzly showed up. Then everyone stopped coming as soon as a big grizzly showed up. I stopped baiting as no other bear would come in. I sat it early when the black bear was around, but the grizzly came in. I was about 80yrds away and once he came in i watched for a little bit and left before dark.

I am a little surprised that he didn't have a trail camera on the bait so he could get a better picture to ID the bear.
he did have it on video, and he even sent the video to IDGAF or whatever their acronym is, and they said black bear. The video he took of it is in the link at the top of page 2 of this thread. it's pretty wild that even they misjudged it.
 

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