Citizens for South Carolina Wild Bears



Congratulations!

The time has run out for this bill, so it is, for now, dead!

Thank you to all the people who helped and supported this fight for the bears.
It just shows that thwe little guy can win if we all band together for what is right.

People can try to introduce a similar bill in the future, so please be on the lookout, and we may have to do this all again.

But for now, the bears are safe from additional weeks of bear-dog hunting every year.
This website is made up of hunters, non-hunters and private land owners who oppose the lengthening of South Carolina's Party Dog Hunt Bear Season.
The web site has been created because a group of South Carolina bear hunters, with support and endorsement from the SC DNR, proposes a 4 week "run" season, to begin as early as 15 September, which would make it legal to turn dogs loose for running bear, though it would be unlawful to kill the bear.
Legalization of the “run season” is inadvisable because it is a commonly known fact our SC bear are already often pursued by dog hunters illegally from September to March, in flagrant violation of the law. Some unethical hunters persist in illegally pursuing bear with dogs throughout this time with virtual impunity, due to the fact that game enforcement is already stretched thin. Legalizing this running season would make it extremely difficult to stop the existing illegal bear hunting, and would in effect facilitate its increase.
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We at this web site would not oppose a reasonable, science-based extension of the “still hunt” component of the bear season. However, we strongly oppose any extension of the party dog hunt season, on the grounds that the current dog hunt situation is already out of control, too often unethically conducted in disregard of the Rules of Fair Chase, and is simply unsafe for SC citizens living in the rural areas where these dog hunts occur.

10 Reasons Recent Newspaper Articles What can I do?
Feral Hogs Dog Hunting vs Still Hunting TrailCam pictures
Bear Population Poaching & Hunting Out of Season
Party Dog Hunts

In his two books, South Carolina’s Mountain Wilderness and The Blue Wall, the distinguished South Carolina civic leader and conservationist Thomas Wyche describes with photographs and narratives what he calls a “special place”. In his words: “Tucked away in the northwestern corner of the state along the rocky borders of North Carolina and Georgia, the Blue Ridge Escarpment of South Carolina encompasses some 150,000 acres, a wonderland of natural features…”. He appeals to his readers, “I hope this book will play a role in making people aware that this is a wilderness area of national significance, one of the world’s great natural places – a place of endless forest, sheer cliffs, foaming whitewater, trout, black bear, and other wild mountain creatures.” He adds “Black bear, making a remarkable recovery from near extinction, roam the forest.” Throughout his narratives that describe South Carolina’s unique mountain landscape, he uses the term “unspoiled” to describe his special place.
Wild Bear, South Carolina mountains, 2005
see Trail Cam for more
trail cam
In late October when the weather is near perfect and the fall colors abound, a human activity takes place in South Carolina’s mountains that has reached a level of unacceptable impact. It is called the “Party Dog Hunt” and it attracts a small army of hunters from across the southeast and beyond.
Hunting activities in wilderness areas can and should be compatible with other wilderness experiences and values, as well as be compatible with the local people who live near the public land that hosts that hunting.
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But, in recent years, the Party Dog Hunt has become a high impact and very visible activity and some even describe it as “lawless”.
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10 Reasons Recent Newspaper Articles What can I do?
Feral Hogs Dog Hunting vs Still Hunting TrailCam pictures
Bear Population Poaching & Hunting Out of Season
Party Dog Hunts

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