Bear viewing enthusiasts are upset by bear hunting in the Katmai preserve. Even supporters of hunting in general say they didn’t object to the hunts until the number of bears killed increased dramatically from 6 in 1985 to 35 in 2005 after the hunt was moved up from the 12th of October to the 1st. Critics say the bears are habituated to having viewers and fishermen around them and shooting them goes against the ethics of fair chase. When air service guide Chris Day from Emerald Air Service dropped off a film crew last week, a female was shot about 50 feet away.
- View video of the hunt by filmmaker Daniel Zatz (Note: This video may be disturbing for some viewers)
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
