Just thought some of you might be interested. I have put in a proposal to the Alaska Game Board to reclassify Black Bears as furbearers. This will allow them to be trapped, and the fur sold. The reason for this is that we are not having enough Black Bears killed. Their populations are rising, some villages have them running out their ears so to speak. Bears are the main predator on baby moose and caribou in the spring. Moose herds in several parts of the state are having a zero survival rate on calves. Same thing for some caribou herds. Bears are the main predator. Currently, since the only thing one can do with bear pelts are to have them mounted, you cannot sell them, or any parts of a bear. After a fellow has two or three bears hanging on the wall there is little incentive left to shoot bears. By being reclassified the hides can be sold, so can the claws, and skulls. This means some people will again go out and actively hunt bears.
