OK- So I get this postcard in the mail from "CUBB" an anti-baiting group and it's thread that offers discussion brings me here where everyone is way anti-anti-baiting (if that's a platform), ok, you're for it then.
I hunt, don't bait bear though. So why isn't anyone mentioning the basics, like bait sites MUST be way far from any house so teaching bears to come to people-food is a rather bland arguement? "it's lazy and unethical". Well, I admit I don't bait but to date I haven't found ANY hunting to be a "lazy" sport. No one mentions (except those against baiting that Grizzlies come onto bait stations, BUT my copy of the regs say very clearly "NO HUNTING OF GRIZ OVER BAIT" therefor, I assume you... what, ask them nicely to leave? No sows with cubs here either right? So basically a LOT of bear eat for free and some get shot? Is that pretty much it? So, how many eat compared to how many get shot? Any reasonable guesses out there? Howcome no one talks basics like this? Am I just over-simplifying this?
Oh, yea. One last thing, since an anti-baiting group links this thread, where are the anti's arguements for their side? Just wondering.......

I have seen responses to your questions, at least as the Vote NO side of the bear baiting ban. Hunters have voiced the facts detailing the baiting rules and regs (not placing baits in neighborhoods, away from high traffic use areas, etc...). For the most part, most people don't bait for black bears in areas where grizzlies or brown bears are highest populations for the reason that if there are more brownies or grizzlies in a particular area, there won't be a lot of black bears. At least that is the way it is along the coast.

If you are still curious about baiting as a viable form of bear hunting or management tool, contact ADF&G and ask them why it is used and supported. Anyone saying that baiting is for lazy hunters has never maintained a bait station in Alaska, I can tell you that.

How did that ballot issue in Alaska come out? In Maine the anti-hunters were rejected in their attempt to vote out bear hunting. hope so for AK too.

It was rejected in Alaska, also.