MOUNT NEBO -Maryland's first bear hunt in 51 years lasted just one day as hunters bagged at least 20 animals of the state's 30-bear limit.
The hunt was to have run through Saturday in Garrett County and part of western Allegany, but the Department of Natural Resources ended it last night. The DNR had confirmed 20 bears killed and received calls suggesting that several others had been killed, officials said.
"What it means is that bear hunters had a good day of hunting," said Harry Spiker, the state's chief wildlife biologist. "We've got an abundant bear population here, and the good weather played into it. ... We thought it better to end it after one day rather than going grossly over tomorrow."
A message for hunters on the state's bear hunt hot line said: "We truly regret any inconvenience this may have caused, but our first responsibility is to Maryland's natural resources."
The state authorized the hunt to control a rising population that has become a nuisance in Western Maryland. As of last night, 16 bears had been processed at the state's two check-in stations and another three to five were still in the field, state officials said. The stations were to remain open today to process any other bears shot yesterday.
About 200 hunters headed into the woods early yesterday, accompanied by about 150 others. State police kept animal-rights activists with video cameras away from the check-in stations.
The first bear was taken early in Garrett County. The mist was thick in the woods at dawn, condensation dripping from the white oaks, when David Ciekot of Cambridge saw a dark shape moving toward him down a logging trail.
As the animal came within five feet of the tree where he was perched, Ciekot could see it was a small, young bear, he later told reporters at the check-in station. The bear bolted when he raised his rifle, running about 40 yards before Ciekot shot it through the chest.
The killing of the 84-pound, 10-month-old female black bear roused objections from animal-rights activists. It showed that hunters and state game officials weren't just targeting nuisance bears, said Michael Markarian, president of the Silver Spring-based Fund for Animals.
"The state keeps saying the need for this bear hunt is based on science, but there's no science in shooting bear cubs," Markarian said. "The fact that a 10-month-old cub was killed by a hunter shows that the hunters are careless and the DNR isn't doing it's job to protect this population."
