Politics & Government
Governor to Review Proposal for a Bear Hunting Lottery
A plan drafted by state wildlife officials would allow hunters the chance to hunt some of Connecticut's wild bears.
State wildlife officials are drafting plans for a that will be reviewed by Gov. Malloy's administration this week, according to the Hartford Courant.
Bill Hyatt, chief of the wildlife division for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, told the Courant this week that while the proposal, which would allow the chosen hunters to kill a limited number of animals, won't actually allow bears to be hunted, but would be used to formulate a plan in case hunting was necessary in the future.
Similar lotteries are used in Maine, where hunters pay a non-refundable fee to enter. DEEP will recommend that hunters pay $25 to enter the bear-hunt lottery. The chosen hunters would then be required pay for a hunting permit and license.
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Bears haven't been legally hunted in Connecticut since 1840, and the Land of Steady Habits now has between 500 and 1,000 of the ursine beasts, according to the Courant.
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