Like several nationally-known animal hunts, including the Wisconsin Wolf Hunt from earlier this winter, the annual black bear hunt in Nevada (sorry, no catchy name worthy of capitalization) has both its supporters and detractors, and a wildlife board to review its legitimacy. The Nevada Wildlife Commission (NDOW) will conduct a "full review" of the hunt during a two day meeting in Las Vegas beginning Jan. 31, RGJ.com reported.

"As we committed, we're going to have a full review," said Commissioner Jack Robb, a member of the bear committee.

Just like the Wisconsin Wolf Hunt, the bear hunt is likely to gain approval for the 2014 season, even if the primary reason for the upcoming review dates back to legislation in 2011 intended to end the hunt and is a direct outcome of a bill from 2013, according to RGJ.com. Those attempts will likely fail, however, as the black bear population has risen from about 450 in Nevada to over 500 currently (part of a greater population of bears numbering 10,000-15,000 in the Sierras), according to NDOW bear biologist Carl Lackey.

Also on the side of hunters is their record of adherence to seasonal limits (which would seem to be a result of circumstance rather than conservationism). During hunting season, which ended on Dec. 31 this year, only 20 bears are allowed to be taken, but total has never been reached in a single year. The most killed in a season was 14 in 2013.

"From all indications, we do have a healthy bear population in the state of Nevada," Robb said. "As long as we can biologically have (a hunt), I think we will probably move forward," Robb said. "We have checks and balances in place that assure we don't upset the apple cart."

Bear advocates like Kathryn Bricker, executive director of NoBearHuntNV, cede Robb's point that hunting is ecologically feasible; they just don't believe it's ecologically moral. Bricker said hunters and organizations like the NDOW are reluctant to engage in that type of debate.

"There's the question 'could we have a hunt,' which can be answered scientifically," Bricker said. "The larger question in all this is should we have a hunt and that question has been avoided."

If approved for the 2014 season, the black bear hunt will proceed in basically the same manner it has since its inception, according to RGJ.com.