We have a big jeer today for the state of Louisiana and Deron Santiny, who killed and posed for photos with a nearly 700 lb. black bear–likely the largest ever hunted in the state.

Santiny was one of 11 “lottery winners” who were awarded bear hunting permits for the first black bear hunt in Louisiana in 35 years.

What makes his actions more disturbing is that the Purple Heart recipient secured his permit from the Healing Road Foundation, which connects veterans with outdoor activities. Shame on that organization, which claims its mission is providing life changing outdoor experiences for wounded veterans, survivors and their children in a safe, stress-free environment.

The violence inherent in a black bear hunt is anything but stress-free. The road to recovery for veterans shouldn’t be encouraging them to pick up a gun to mow down an innocent black bear.

Santiny downplaying the slaughter as a “lucky shot” just adds insult to injury. Let’s be honest: There’s no luck involved when you’re participating in what can be compared to a canned hunt. Landowners were tracking the bear’s movements plus using irresistible bait.

We are also condemning the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. “Providing hunters in our state a chance at harvesting a bear for the first time this century is a big win for conservation,” LDWF Secretary Madison Sheahan said in a statement.

Using Louisiana black bears for target practice is not “conservation.”

After being on the brink of extinction, Louisiana black bears have fought back valiantly. There were fewer than 120 individuals in the 1950’s. Decades of conservation efforts ensued, culminating with the Louisiana black bear receiving an Endangered Species Act listing in 1992.

The bears lost their status as threatened in 2016 but were still protected from human harm by the LDWF since. That was, until this year’s black bear hunt.

While the LDFW insists that lottery fees and license revenue will fund future bear management programs, FoA thinks LDWF should keep their hands off black bears and manage their agency better.

Madison Sheahan added that the “success stories” from this year’s hunt, like Daron Santiny’s kill, are “indicative of many prosperous black bear seasons to come.”

Clearly LDWF runs a misguided wildlife management program.

Please contact the Healing Road Foundation Founder Gino Attardi and tell them to stop securing permits for black bear hunting in Louisiana and to instead help veterans participate in wildlife watching activities. He can be reached at gino@thehealingroad.org.