Hunting the Bear

On July 1 bear hunters in Wisconsin, after dumping millions of gallons of confectionary bait, started running hounds on bears in the woods. This is not a kill season, although some bears undoubtedly die after being run in the hot, humid woods or fought before clawing their way up a tree. This so called practice season which leads to conflicts with many citizens, property owners as well as wolves who kill canids entering their rendezvous territory. Come September a three to four week kill season commences. About twenty five years ago another version of this story aired on NPR's "All Things Considered" whcih led to me getting hired as a reporter for WXPR Public Radio in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.