Bear Season Canceled

Hunting

Bears along the lower Rogue River won’t have to be wary of hunters after all.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission recently rescinded a decision to allow bear hunting along the popular whitewater river in southern Oregon.

Bear hunting has been banned within a mile of the Rogue along most of the stretch between Gold Beach and Agness for 30 years.

In June, the commission tentatively adopted the hunt after an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist suggested hunters could harvest nuisance bears that he would otherwise have to trap alive and haul away.

But public outcry drowned out the damage complaints.

Both hunters and animal rights activists testified against the hunt, arguing that it made no sense to hunt bears that were so used to seeing people.

Opponents also argued that the bears were a valuable tourist attraction.