A new Trump administration rule allows hunters to bait bears on federal lands in Alaska with bacon, doughnuts, meat scraps or other human foods typically used to help kill the trophy animals at close range.

Opponents say the practice will cause bears to be more aggressive around humans, and allege that the rule change is a political gift to largely rightwing trophy hunters. The rule replaces a 2024 Biden administration rule that banned the practice, and environmental groups criticized the move as “indefensible and inexcusable”.

“We are discouraged to see this rule come back, specifically the bear baiting piece which is cruel and dangerous, not only to wildlife but the public as well,” said Drew Robertson, senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals.

The US interior department on Friday published the rule on the federal register, and it will take effect in mid-November. It marks the latest in a series of rule changes at the state and federal levels since 2023 that allow trophy hunters to use what critics say are barbaric and unethical practices to kill animals.

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  • BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world
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    19 hours ago

    I think every hunt should be conducted with a musket. If you miss and it runs, be a better shot. If you hit/miss and it attacks you, don’t be an asshole that shoots animals for sport.

    • saltesc@lemmy.world
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      15 hours ago

      Haha noooo. There’ll be a lot of fucked up animals limping around. When hunting, you want everything to be as precise as possible. Could be the best marksmen in the world, you still want as high precision a firearm as you can afford.

      • cloudshouter@lemmy.zip
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        14 hours ago

        If only that mattered. The best hunters are like the golfers who can sink putts with a shovel. I have known hunters, including the most loud and proud red blooded American 2A all the way high dollar rigged professional trophy collectors, who are in my opinion dogshit shooters. The best are only there because the other options are chicken or vegetarian. They can get more done with something their great grandpa bought from the sears catalog.

    • AWistfulNihilist@lemmy.world
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      19 hours ago

      There’s already a muzzle loader season in a lot of places. Some places designate a season for things like muzzle loaders and crossbows, some will group them all together with auctioned bow permits. Typically you put bow season first because once guns start firing, animals get wary of human sign very quick. The ones that don’t are already harvested and in someones freezer.

      • frongt@lemmy.zip
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        18 hours ago

        Crossbows? Are you sure? I know there’s bow season, but I’ve never heard of hunting with a crossbow.

        I mean I’m sure it’s been done, just not nearly as much as regular compound bows.

          • CrimeIsLegalNow@ani.social
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            14 hours ago

            Personally I think it’s pretty stupid to ban crossbows when gun season is right around the corner. iTs uNsPoRtInG bitch so is camouflage.

            Real men would be chasing them down with spears.

        • Fondots@lemmy.world
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          17 hours ago

          A lot of things of course come down to individual state and sometimes local laws/regulations

          But crossbows are definitely very popular for hunting in areas where they’re allowed.

          My state lumps them in with the regular archery season, wouldn’t be at all surprised if other areas have a separate crossbow season.

          We also have a muzzleloader season, and a season specifically for flintlock muzzleloaders (as opposed to muzzleloaders that use a percussion cap)

    • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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      16 hours ago

      Except with boars, use a fucken landmine if you want seriously fuck them hogs. They’re more durable than most cars and are viscous boar hunting is a community service in my book.