www.katu.com/outdoors/...81047.html


SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — State officials are drafting new rules that could greatly increase the number of black bears that hunters may kill each year.

The Department of Fish and Game says California's black bear population has quadrupled in the past 25 years. The increase has led to more reports of property damage and other encounters between humans and bears.

Hunters currently are limited to killing 1,700 black bears each year, and officials say the new rules could raise that by more than 50 percent.

The new rules also could, for the first time, allow hunters to use GPS devices on the collars of hunting dogs that automatically alert them when the dogs have cornered a bear.

The department is holding a hearing on the rules Thursday.

Animal rights groups say they're fighting the proposal, which they call inhumane and extreme.

Information from: San Jose Mercury News

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

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Fingers crossed for this and feral pigs.

Hot damn!!!

alot of guys n gals over here in kiwi land have tracking collars on there pig dogs so they can locate the huas when they go wandering too far you get out the tv arial and listen for the beeps. go luck with the bears.

Thanks, E.

Hoping to get a sit in next year up north on a hog management hunt.