Hunters May Lure Bears With Food on Alaska Federal Lands

Hunters on federal land in Alaska can now use human food to attract bears starting in mid-November. The practice allows hunters to shoot trophy animals at close range by luring them with items such as bacon, doughnuts, and meat scraps. The rule was published in the federal register on Friday.

The new regulation replaces a 2024 policy from the Biden administration that prohibited baiting. That earlier ban was based on scientific findings that baiting increases bear aggression around humans and poses risks to park visitors. The current administration argues the change restores local control over wildlife management.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated in a press release that the rule responds to demands from Alaska residents. He described the measure as a commonsense framework that gives Alaskans a stronger voice in decisions affecting their lands and traditions. The rule does not specify which foods are allowed. Instead, it defers to state regulations, which generally permit the practice.

Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, noted that hunters typically select the most effective bait, which is often high in fat and sugar. He explained that the standard method involves placing food in a steel drum or garbage can. Hunters then keep watch over the bait and shoot the bear at short range from a nearby blind.

Critics argue the method undermines the spirit of sport hunting. Drew Robertson, a senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, called the provision cruel and dangerous to both wildlife and the public. He stated that many hunters would not view the practice as a fair chase because it is more extreme than traditional hunting methods.

The decision follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential. Robertson argued that because the order directed the rule to be reissued, the motive is political rather than the result of careful scientific consideration. Other recent moves by federal officials have permitted controversial methods, including shooting bears from helicopters and using artificial lights to draw bears from dens.

The legal history of this issue is complex. The Obama administration first imposed a ban, which the first Trump administration reversed. Litigation later upheld the Obama rule and overturned the Trump rule. Arrivo rejected the argument that the state should control these decisions, noting that Congress created the federal land program to centralize decision-making power. He said the approach is anathema to federal land management goals and that scrapping the 2024 rule raises questions about the legality of the new measure.