4VAC15-50-11. Game: Bear. Open season; generally.
Summary
The proposal is to remove 25 days from the bear open season in 24 counties, primarily located in the northwestern portion of the state where sarcoptic mange is endemic, (ii) add the 3-day early bear season in the portions of Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe, Smyth, and Washington that are southeast of I-81; and (iii) add one week to the beginning of the general firearms bear season in the counties of Charlotte, Halifax, Mecklenburg, and Prince Edward and the portions south of I-81 in the counties of Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe, Smyth, and Washington.
DWR has heard, and understands, hunter concerns about the substantial reductions in bear hunting opportunities in areas impacted by mange. These decisions are made with both hunter opportunity and bear population health in mind and are based on the best scientific information that we have. Below are some of the factors that went into these decisions:
- Mange, combined with bear harvest and other forms of mortality, significantly reduced bear populations in multiple counties where the disease has been evident for several years. Similarly, without substantial harvest level reductions, bear populations are expected to decline in areas more recently impacted by mange.
- Currently, there is no cure or practical treatment option for mange in wild bear populations, so reducing female bear harvest levels is the most effective tool available to lessen negative population impacts from mange.
- The goals in reducing female bear harvests now are to recover bear populations more quickly, minimize the impacts of mange on the leading edge of the outbreak, and ultimately restore traditional hunting seasons more quickly.
- These regulation proposals focus on equitably reducing female harvest across all types of bear hunting seasons, including archery, muzzleloader, and firearms (with and without dogs).
- These proposals would still allow hunters to chase bears with dogs on the days when bear harvest with dogs is proposed to be removed, so that the time hunters can be in the woods with their bear dogs remains unchanged.
- Through ongoing research with Virginia Tech, and collaboration with other states and partners, the Department is learning as much as fast as we can about mange in bears and other animals with the hope to refine and enhance the Department’s response and management in the future.
- DWR remains committed to balancing bear hunting opportunities with long-term management of the bear population in a sustainable way.
- For more detailed information, please see the rationale below and read the document at this link.
Proposed Language
Note: In the “Proposed Language” document, underlined text denotes proposed new language, while text with a strikethrough denotes language that is proposed to be deleted.
Rationale
- This proposal addresses population objectives from the 2023-2032 Bear Management Plan which call for stabilizing populations (at 2020 levels) for the 24 counties (Zones 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10) outlined in this proposal. Recent analyses for these zones indicate bear population declines likely due to multiple factors, including mortality from sarcoptic mange, high female harvest levels intended to reduce populations, poor mast production over the last decade, and increasing bear-vehicle collisions. Reducing female bear harvest, the primary tool within DWR’s control, will be critical for stopping and reversing these declines.Harvest data, conflict reports, sarcoptic mange reports, partner agency data, and constituent observations suggest that bear populations in Zones 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10 have declined significantly in recent years. The impacts of multiple factors noted above are currently being studied through a large-scale research project with Virginia Tech. While sarcoptic mange has not been documented in other states to cause bear population impacts, the magnitude of cases and severity, coupled with additional mortality factors, appears to be causing at least localized population declines in severely impacted zones. Sarcoptic mange has been present in Zones 5 and 9 (Frederick, Warren, Madison, Page, Rappahannock) since 2017 or before and has spread to surrounding areas, with high numbers of reports in zones 4 and 8 (Botetourt, Rockbridge, Augusta, Nelson) in recent years. While sarcoptic mange mortality rates are unknown currently in Virginia, approximately 30% of all mange reports result in the death of the reported bear due to extremely poor condition and/or secondary complications. Research is ongoing across the eastern United States to learn more about sarcoptic mange, both the disease itself and the impacts on species such as bears. Currently, there are no effective treatments or preventative measures that can be used safely and effectively on wildlife. Thus, while reducing mange mortality is difficult, reducing female harvest mortality through regulation amendments is a step in combating the current population declines. Female productivity (reproductive rates) is likely impacted for multiple years following a mange infestation due to poor body condition and lack of sufficient resources to successfully raise cubs. While direct impacts of mange (death of the bear) are important, indirect impacts such as reproduction potential are also important for population recovery.The timing of harvest seasons impact female bear harvest rates. Earlier seasons typically result in higher female harvests since sows are still on the landscape in search of food prior to denning. Later seasons (mid-December onward) generally result in lower female harvests as those bears will enter a den either to produce cubs or to conserve resources during winter. While archery and muzzleloader seasons harvest a high percentage of females (5-year average of 42.4%), the firearms season harvests the highest number of females (5-year average of 49.6%) due to the popularity of this season. Hence, while all three seasons are proposed for reductions (see also 4VAC15-50-70 and 4VAC15-50-71), this firearms season reduction proposal is relatively significant to account for the higher harvest rates during this season.These three season proposals are collectively intended to reduce sow mortality by 50-75% across all bear seasons and within each of the primary season opportunities: archery, muzzleloader, firearms without dogs, and firearms with dogs. Such reductions are necessary at this time because (1) declines in bear populations in these zones are expected to continue without a change in management strategy, and (2) mortality rates from sarcoptic mange are unknown until results from ongoing research are obtained. These proposals retain diverse forms of bear hunting recreation and allocate harvests as equitably as possible, in accordance with the 2023–2032 Bear Management Plan. Once monitoring reveals that populations have reached adequate recovery levels, DWR intends to re-instate harvest seasons as soon as possible thereafter.To continue providing as much recreational opportunity as possible during reduced harvest seasons, hunters will still be able to chase bears with dogs in these zones, concurrent with the regular open season dates that have allowed the use of hounds. This provision, to be accomplished via a modification to 4VAC15-50-120, will help alleviate shifts in hunting pressure to adjoining counties where bear seasons are not being reduced while also limiting potential user conflicts of users in ne w areas, particularly those with limited public land access. The ability for hunters to continue chasing bears during this time may also assist the Department in monitoring incidents of sarcoptic mange and bear status in these reduced harvest zones.
- Charlotte, Halifax, Mecklenburg, and Prince Edward – This proposal from the Wildlife & Boat Committee would provide more opportunity to harvest bears with firearms during the concurrent deer firearms season.
- Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe – The proposal from the Wildlife & Boat Committee would provide consistent bear firearms hunting seasons across the entirety of these counties. Currently, the portion of these counties lying on the north/west side of Interstate 81 have longer bear firearms hunting seasons than the portion of the county lying south/east of Interstate 81.