Oklahoma bear hunts move closer to reality

The state Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 5-2 Wednesday to establish the state’s first black bear hunting season.

The season in four southeastern counties is contingent on lawmakers passing a bill to create a black bear hunting license.

The state Senate and House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed separate — but identical — measures that would legalize black bear hunting.

The Senate bill awaits action by the full House. The House bill awaits action by the full Senate.

Wildlife Commissioners David Riggs and Mac Maguire voted against a black bear hunting season.

Both are not convinced Oklahoma has a large enough bear population to support hunting. They think young bears are not adequately protected in the regulations passed by the commission.

"I think we are too young at it,” Maguire said, noting that Arkansas had 4,000 black bears before allowing hunts.

‘Good science’

Alan Peoples, director of the wildlife division for the state Wildlife Department, said 500 bears would be a very conservative estimate. Oklahoma State University researchers know there are at least 500 bears in Le Flore County alone, Peoples said.

"We feel like we’ve got good science” to support a hunting season, he said.

The season would take place in Pushmataha, McCurtain, Latimer and Le Flore counties.

Nuisance complaints about bears increase every year, Peoples said.

"They have actually killed livestock,” the wildlife official said.

If the hunting proposal becomes law, Oklahoma will be the 29th state to allow bear hunting.