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source: http://www.rgj.com/article/20111214/NEWS/111214029/Man-who-killed-first-bear-Nevada-hunt-charged-illegal-baiting
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The Reno man who killed the first bear in Nevada’s highly
controversial black bear hunt faces charges he illegally baited the
animals.

Timothy Kawelmacher, 55, is
scheduled to appear in Reno Justice Court on Monday. He is charged with
two misdemeanor counts of baiting big-game mammals for the purpose of
hunting, said Chris Hicks, Washoe County deputy district attorney.“It
is very discouraging that the very first bear killed in this
controversial hunt is now the subject of prosecution,” Hicks said.

Kawelmacher
is charged with using apples and bacon grease to bait for bears on Aug.
11 and anise oil for the same purpose between Aug. 5 and Aug. 20, when
the season opened, Hicks said.Kawelmacher killed the
season’s first bear — a 9-year-old, 180-pound female — with a rifle near
Garson Road west of Reno on Aug. 20, according to officials with the
Nevada Department of Wildlife.

He was later cited by game wardens, and
the bear’s head and hide were seized as evidence.Kawelmacher,
who Hicks said has cooperated with authorities, could not be reached
for comment. It appears he will be acting as his own attorney Monday,
Hicks said.The hunter faces fines of up to $1,000 and jail
time of up to 6 months for each count, Hicks said. Additional civil
penalties of up to $2,000 for each count are also possible.


“What is most significant about this case is that it was the very first year of
the bear hunt, and there was a very heated debate about whether there
should even be a bear hunt,” Hicks said.Since the season
opened Aug. 20, 13 bears — eight males and five females — have been
killed. The season ends Dec. 31 or once 20 bears total or six females
are killed.


At least 33 states have a black bear hunting season in
place. While some do allow baiting, Nevada wildlife officials outlawed
the activity when adopting hunting regulations.Forty-one
hunters who successfully drew tags for the hunt attended an Aug. 6
orientation hosted by the Department of Wildlife to make clear specifics
of hunting regulations, among other things. Kawelmacher was present,
officials said.

Considering the controversy of the hunt,
which was widely attacked by critics, wildlife officials stressed the
importance of obeying the rules.“You guys are under the
microscope,” Department of Wildlife biologist and bear expert Carl
Lackey said at the time. “Please do everything right.”