Alaska Bear Hunting: Federal Rule Reinstates Baiting November 12

The Interior Department finalized a rule on Friday that permits hunters to lure bears with food on federal lands in Alaska. The regulation takes effect on November 12. It allows the use of human foods like bacon, doughnuts, and meat scraps to attract animals for close-range shooting. This practice replaces a 2024 rule from the Biden administration that had prohibited baiting.

Doug Burgum, the Interior Secretary, defended the move in a press release. He stated the rule responds to demands from Alaska residents. Burgum called it a commonsense framework that gives Alaskans a stronger voice in decisions affecting their lands and wildlife traditions. He noted that the rule defers to state regulations, which already permit baiting, rather than naming specific foods at the federal level.

The policy shift follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump early in his second term. Titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, the order directed the reissuance of the rule. Critics argue this points to a political motive. Drew Robertson, a senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, described the baiting provision as cruel and dangerous to both wildlife and the public. He called the new measure indefensible and inexcusable.

Hunters typically place high-fat, high-sugar food in a steel drum or garbage can. They keep watch over the lure and shoot the bear at short range from a nearby blind. Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, said hunters generally choose the cheapest and most effective food available. He noted that the method raises questions about the spirit of sport hunting, as many hunters do not view it as a fair chase.

The issue has a complex legal history. The Obama administration first imposed a ban, which the first Trump administration reversed. Litigation eventually upheld the Obama rule and overturned the Trump version. The Biden administration reinstated the ban in 2024, citing science that suggests baiting makes bears more aggressive around people. This new rule follows other recent moves to permit contested methods, such as shooting bears from helicopters and using artificial lights to draw them from dens.

Arrivo rejected the argument that deferring to state control is appropriate for federal lands. He stated that Congress created the federal land program to place decision-making power with the federal government. He described the new approach as contrary to federal land management goals of preserving wildlife diversity. Arrivo said scrapping the 2024 rule, which underwent a thorough scientific process, raises questions about the legality of the current regulation. No lawsuit has been filed yet to challenge the new rule.