Alaska Bear Hunting: Federal Rule Reverses 2024 Ban on Food Baiting

The US interior department finalized a rule on Friday that allows hunters to use food bait on federal lands in Alaska. The regulation takes effect in mid-November, replacing a 2024 order from the Biden administration that had prohibited the practice. Under the new guidelines, hunters may lure bears with items such as bacon, doughnuts, and meat scraps to kill trophy animals at close range.

The rule stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump early in his second term, titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated in a press release that the measure responds to demands from Alaska residents. He described the framework as a tool that gives Alaskans a stronger voice in decisions affecting their local wildlife and traditions.

The regulatory history of bear baiting in Alaska has been contested for over a decade. The Obama administration first imposed a ban, which the first Trump administration reversed. Courts later upheld the Obama rule and struck down the Trump reversal. The Biden administration reinstated the ban in 2024, citing scientific evidence that baiting makes bears more aggressive and increases risks for park visitors.

The federal rule does not specify which foods hunters may use. Instead, it defers to state regulations, which generally permit baiting. Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, explained that hunters typically choose cheap, effective foods with high fat and sugar content. The standard method involves placing the food in a steel drum or garbage can, keeping watch from a blind, and shooting the bear at short range.

Opponents of the rule argue it prioritizes political favors over wildlife management. Drew Robertson, senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, called the provision cruel and dangerous to both wildlife and the public. He noted that the practice is more extreme than traditional hunting and that many hunters do not view it as a fair chase. Robertson suggested the executive order's directive to reissue the rule points to a political motive rather than careful consideration.

This change follows a series of recent moves by federal and state officials to permit contested hunting methods in Alaska. These include shooting bears from helicopters, hunting swimming caribou from motor boats, killing wolf pups in dens, and using artificial lights to draw bears out of hiding. While about a dozen states allow bear baiting, more states prohibit it, creating a patchwork of regulations across the country.

Arrivo rejected the argument that deferring to state control is appropriate, noting that Congress created the federal land program to place decision-making power with the federal government. He stated that the approach conflicts with federal land management goals of preserving wildlife diversity. Although no lawsuit has been decided yet, Arrivo said the reversal of the 2024 rule, which underwent a detailed scientific process, raises concerns about the legality of the new regulation.