So with all of the speculation regarding what would happen to someone for illegally killing a bear in Alabama.

I did a Google search and found an article where Michael Cole Watkins of Wetumpka killed a bear in Elmore County in September 2023.

He killed the bear at NIGHT.

He was charged with:
Hunting after dark
Hunting during a closed season

Went to jail, bonded out within three hours ($7,000.00 bond). He could hire a bondsman for $350.00 to bond him out.

He pled guilty on January 30, 2024.
6 month jail sentence SUSPENDED.
2 years of probation.
$2,000 fine (to be paid at $100/month)
No hunting or fishing privileges for 3 years

We had a farmer up here shoot one several years ago at night. Was in or near his hog pen . His story was he thought it was a large dog coming after his pigs. He didn't even know it was a bear till he found it next morning. He called the GWs , he didn't pay a dime as I remember.

Come to mobile they killed at least a dozen about ten miles from my house in 2009




https://www.al.com/live/2009/05/bl

I had some coworkers that were in a club that lost its lease after two members killed a bear. All of my coworkers were interviewed at their home by game wardens during the investigation even though they weren’t on the property when it happened. The state told the property owner to cancel their lease after the investigation was over, even though none of the other members were involved.

Hmmmmm.

SSS

Was the guy who killed the bear killing it because it was threatening his personal property?

I would think that would be a different situation.

No the guy was hunting at night and killed the bear for sport.

Some folks on here want you to believe you’ll go to prison for killing a bear. The purpose of this thread was to show them that in the real world it’s not really a big deal. $2,000 fine, no hunting/fishing privileges for 3 years (I.e. the State won’t sell you a license for 3 years). Ha!

I could go kill a bear tonight, just for sport, it would cost me $2,000. I don’t need a hunting or fishing license on my own land. Heck I can’t go on a bear hunt anywhere for $2,000! That’s a bargain!

Did they confiscate the bear or was he allowed to keep it?
Asking for a friend.

If you are the type of DA who would kill a bear for the hell of it, the 3 year license suspension might be meaningful in the long run. I personally haven't talked to a warden in a decade, but I doubt this guy has his own (legal) acreage to hunt. More likely, he's a "piddler', so chances are high that he'll be quizzed in the field sometime, and his whole background will come out.

Well, you'd also be a convicted criminal, and if you messed up with any conditions during the two years' probation, you could be sent to jail for six months. But yeah, totally worth it, I guess.

I agree, kill all the bears, we didn't need them before and we don't now. only PETA and dcnr want them. why not just get grizzly bears they will kill kids even faster.