It is a good thing to have hunters like this gal employed by the various agencies.

agreed.

As long as Dave G is gone it’s a good thing. If he is still involved it will be the same crap show. The straight shooter and best advocate was Karen Noyce, when she was forced out it was a bad day for Minnesotas bear management program.

Osky

Anyhow they should study bear hunters, they set laws to appease hunter sentiment more than biology

Sort of related in a way.

From research here from collared wolves we found out that the wolves killed a # of bears in the winter dragging them out of their dens.

I agree, collaring is a valuable tool not just for conservation and understanding animal habits better but also for the medical field. I've been a part of a couple of winter den visits that focused more on the "how's" and "why's" of bear hibernation. For example, how do bears slow their heartbeat and oxygen intake so much to be able to survive yet not burn valuable calories while hibernating? What mechanisms do they employ to trigger a slower heartbeat? With more knowledge about this, the information gained can be transferred to the medical field and humans. Maybe there's a way to apply this understanding to a person that's in a coma to help them slow their body, use less energy, and recover faster. Bears are truly fascinating animals that can teach of a lot.

Ben Hopson, Anaktuvuk Pass Nunamiut wolfer, swore by tainted grizzly fat. He often stressed how much wolves love to eat bears. His method was to rub a chunk of tainted fat on a windblown rock and set a 9 there.

The state of PA has been studying black bears and radio collaring them since the 1980's As far as I know there has not been a problem with bears attacking humans Increasingly the bear population has been living in more settled .areas So the chance for bear /human conflict is a possibly Even though it is illegal to feed bears it is a common problem And that cause bears to be disruptive when living in and around food sources Corn fields bee hives and fruit crops are all food to the bear And encouraging bear to be drawn to those areas or more likely to be an issue than what any handling of them when they are young would be .And on another note in PA the PA Game Commision owns and manages the Middle Creek wetlands area It has been a great area of habitat for waterfowl and also small game .Until recently it had always been closed to trapping Within the last 10 years the hired a new manager for the area Because of her efforts they changed what had been a rule which was no trapping into allowing a limited number of trappers on the property Yes it is highly regulated but the young lady they hired for the job was a key part of the area being open to what had always been out of the question before . I had heard about the change of policy and shortly there after I went there to goose hunt I had the chance to talk with her and thanked her for her support of trapping So for all those that have doubts of the lady's motives towards hunting do the fair thing and at least give her the chance to prove herself And be sure to put your best foot forward and give her the same chance you would want if you where the new guy doing the job .

Anybody got her number?

Recently ?? Thats been known/observed for decades at least amongst the people who spend any amount of time in the bush in these parts. Want good wolf bait, use bear.

I think our bear biologist is also a female.

"BR 549"

Seriously? Good grief.

What is the new biologist supposed to be studying. My faith in most of these studies is at zero after the Isle Royal BS!

When Karen Noyce was basically forced out of the Minnesota DNR the bear research department lost all credibility. Tri seems like a really good guy in my interactions with him and time will tell. Karen was an advocate for hunters and baiting of bears. I believe she collared over 800 plus bears.

I’ve read the studies the MN DNR has put out and there was nothing earth shattering that anyone who’s spent a lifetime bear hunting/guiding wouldn’t know.

In response to Jim Gibb’s statement about wolves dragging bears out of dens, cubs and adults, the MN DNR has long denied this as fact. I personally have seen bear hair in wolf scat in fall baiting and spring moose shed hunting.

Osky and Buck’s opinions on anything bear related can be considered gold truth. There’s not many men in Minnesota with the experience of those two guiding or hunting.

Yep.
I can't see any reason to spend $$ on an animal that has already been (studied) for years.

I could give 2 craps if a bear travels 100 miles to look for food/Denning.
They are animal doing what animals do, every year!
But, as long as she's hired, I hope she listens to people that are out n about and have a handle on what's going on instead of reading a book on bear behavior and thinking it Gospel.
She appears to be a hunter. That's great!.
I just hope she follows her own path and doesn't go Woke.

Exactly right

Yes, seriously. Just look around you. This woke BS is being driven by mostly women and the men they hold captive.

Well I’m not all that worked up against putting collars on bears.
I’m sure each department if that’s what they call them, is allocated x amounts of money. What else would the bear group spend it on? They are in the field, hands on, more than can be said for others.
If the money isn’t spent for that then what, more bike trails, hiking trails, nature centers on the edge of the major population centers ?

This being said I’m not nuts about it either. With all the COs prancing around wearing well pressed uniforms and driving new polished trucks at least I know some are literally getting their hands dirty. Best case scenario, they do learn something that helps the bears, bear hunters, or both. I’m neutral on it.

As a side note, I was fortunate enough to know Karen while she worked for the DNR and spent time with her. I do not believe anyone on this planet knows black bears as well as that woman. Simply amazing.

Osky

With all of the anti-outdoor lawsuits filed in the last 20 years the conservation departments (if working in good faith doing research) are necessary when any anti hunting-fishing-trapping agenda ends up in court or on a voting referendum.

Without the information that is gained from doing the research the states have zero legs to stand on in court.

I know many decisions are not based on facts but it can be considered CYA.