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Panel advances bill changing bear-hunting rules in Game Zone 1
Summary
A Wildlife Subcommittee approved House Bill 3813 to allow still hunting on private land during both weeks of the season, eliminate a dog-party roster requirement and remove a five-bear party limit. The measure passed 5-0 and will move to full committee.
The Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Wildlife Subcommittee approved House Bill 3813 at its meeting, advancing the measure to the full committee by a 5-0 vote.
The bill would allow still hunting on private land during both weeks of the two-week bear season (previously still hunting was allowed only the first week), eliminate a longstanding requirement that dog-hunt parties submit a roster to the Clemson office, and remove a five-bear limit that applied to registered dog-hunt parties. Charles Ruth, a biologist with the Department of Natural Resources who supervises the agency’s big game program, testified for the bill and answered members’ questions.
"It's their property if if they want to continue to bear hunt solo rather than with dogs they should be able to do that," Ruth said, explaining why the change to allow still hunting on private land was included. He described the measure as "streamlining and getting rid of antiquated language and providing more opportunities."
Ruth told the panel the dog-party roster is no longer used by wildlife enforcement or agency staff and was an unnecessary paperwork burden on groups that organize multi-person dog hunts. "We just don't want to ... have to fill this paperwork out," he said.
Under current practice each person is limited to one bear tag per season; Ruth confirmed that will remain unchanged. He also told the subcommittee the statewide bear harvest increased by about 30 percent this year over the previous record, with "over 200 bears this year statewide" and about "180 in your in your area," remarks he made during questions from committee members.
Rep. Burns said he supported removing the registration requirement, saying the change was welcome. Rep. Gibson asked whether the five-bear group limit would persist; committee testimony confirmed it would not. Committee members then moved for passage; the chair called the roll. Representatives Bauer, Gibson, Hart, Hyatt and Forrest voted "aye." The vote was recorded as 5-0, and the bill will move on to the full committee.
The subcommittee heard only this single bill at the session. Agency staff said the changes respond to longstanding field practice and a desire to reduce paperwork for hunters, while keeping the one-tag-per-person season limit in place.
