Wyoming Game and Fish Department bear specialist Mark Bruscino told the Cody Enterprise we could begin Yellowstone area grizzly hunts now, and "it would not be detrimental to the population."
But Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team annual reports reveal that even without a legal hunting season, grizzly bear mortality limits on male grizzlies in the Yellowstone region have been exceeded two of the past three years. Female grizzly mortality limits have been exceeded once, and were close to the limit the other two years. The death toll on cubs and yearlings averages about half the allowable limit.
Which means that if legal grizzly hunts began tomorrow, hunters would only be allowed to kill cubs and yearling grizzlies.
In 2010, the mortality limit on adult male grizzlies was 24, but 47 bears died. The mortality limit for adult female grizzlies was 23; 21 bears were killed. The mortality limit on cubs and yearlings was 17, but only 7 died. (p. 26, Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team annual report, 2010)
In 2009, the mortality limit on adult male grizzlies was 24, and 20 bears got killed. The mortality limit on adult female grizzlies was 22, and 20 females died. The mortality limit on cubs and yearlings was 16, and 8 perished. (p23, Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team annual report, 2009)
In 2008, the mortality limit for adult male grizzlies was 24, and 47 bears died. The mortality limit for adult females was 23, but 30 died. Cubs and yearling fared better. The mortality limit was 17, and "only" 8 died. (p.25, Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team annual report, 2008)
The not so grand totals for 2008-2010 show that the mortality limit for adult male grizzlies was 72, but 108 boars got killed. The mortality limit for adult female grizzlies was 68, and 71 died. The mortality limit on cubs and yearlings, was 50, but only 23 died.
If the Wyoming Game & Fish Department was allowed to have a legal hunting season on grizzly bears in the Yellowstone right now, it appears that only cubs and yearlings would be fair game.
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