New Trump rule allows hunters to bait bears in Alaska with doughnuts, bacon and more
A new Trump administration rule allows hunters to bait bears on federal lands in Alaska with bacon, doughnuts, meat scraps or other human foods typically used to help kill the trophy animals at close range.
Opponents say the practice will cause bears to be more aggressive around humans, and allege that the rule change is a political gift to largely rightwing trophy hunters. The rule replaces a 2024 Biden administration rule that banned the practice, and environmental groups criticized the move as “indefensible and inexcusable”.
“We are discouraged to see this rule come back, specifically the bear baiting piece which is cruel and dangerous, not only to wildlife but the public as well,” said Drew Robertson, senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals.
The US interior department on Friday published the rule on the federal register, and it will take effect in mid-November. It marks the latest in a series of rule changes at the state and federal levels since 2023 that allow trophy hunters to use what critics say are barbaric and unethical practices to kill animals.
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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/24/trump-administration-alaska-bear-hunting-baitOpen linkView original on lemmy.world
21 replies
I think every hunt should be conducted with a musket. If you miss and it runs, be a better shot. If you hit/miss and it attacks you, don't be an asshole that shoots animals for sport.
There's already a muzzle loader season in a lot of places. Some places designate a season for things like muzzle loaders and crossbows, some will group them all together with auctioned bow permits. Typically you put bow season first because once guns start firing, animals get wary of human sign very quick. The ones that don't are already harvested and in someones freezer.
Crossbows? Are you sure? I know there's bow season, but I've never heard of hunting with a crossbow.
I mean I'm sure it's been done, just not nearly as much as regular compound bows.
Yeah my dad hunted exclusively with a crossbow
A lot of things of course come down to individual state and sometimes local laws/regulations
But crossbows are definitely very popular for hunting in areas where they're allowed.
My state lumps them in with the regular archery season, wouldn't be at all surprised if other areas have a separate crossbow season.
We also have a muzzleloader season, and a season specifically for flintlock muzzleloaders (as opposed to muzzleloaders that use a percussion cap)
Ugh Feel like a big man because you can line up a shot? Try hunting with spear at least maybe the beer belly will go away
r/NotTheOnion
Yeah bait them with human food thats a great idea you fucken dolts. "Augh! Why are these bears trashing my town!?"
Now they can blame citizens and not data centers for the bears leaving the (now deforested) forest.
Trophy hunters must be dicks. Hunting has always been about the skill and the bush craft while these rich mates of Demented are hooked on murder and blood. Should go to a farm and shoot a cow or something.
They would absolutely do that if the farmer didn't get mad at them for it.
They do! High fence hunts in Texas. You can buy any farm raised exotic animal you want and shoot it from behind a fence and have it butchered on site in a box truck where they'll package and get it chilled so you can ship it back home.
Those people still take pictures of the animal, still take a trophy, and still call it "hunting". It is the equivalent of spending 25,000 dollars to shoot a jersey cow.
Big hunter guys need to bait bears into their camp site because walking around in the woods is scary and hard. They probably hire someone to collect and process the carcass for them; I'll bet they're in and out of bear habitat in a couple of hours. They probably don't even have to carry the rifle themselves.
All to make gun-brained dentists and chiropractors feel like they hunted a bear.
Honestly, I don't really get it as a whole. It seems very weird to go out of your way to kill things. I don't like fishing either. Idk, to each their own but it seems hardcore a bit and not really in a good way. It feels very mean spirited for a sport.
Obviously that doesn't include subsistence hunting and the fill your freezer once a year for cheap crowd.
The full pork cop diet, I see.
:whew: I came in here to see if anyone else was gonna make a cop joke, and have to do one if nobody had, but you saved me. :)
You know I have ate bear a few times and for the life of me apart form population control I see no need to kill them.
Ya but will any be left after Trump eats it all?
Trump can't stand the sight of blood. He can't even eat a steak cooked less than well done. I can't imagine him ever handling raw meat, let alone butchering an animal.
I know why this isn't usually done but a part of me thinks that bears do deserve being baited by bacon, even more so if it's their last meal. Animals have taste buds too.
A hunt isn't always successful. The hunted often gets away, sometimes hurt badly. Either way, the animal connects the dots and expects bad things to happen when they again encounter human food and humans together. But this time it might be an unsuspecting person met with a highly aggressive bear that expects danger and attacks the person.