Girls Rule

Bear hunting was banned in Maryland for more than 50 years, as the bear population had been largely wiped out early in the 20th Century.

Last year, amid signs that the population had rebounded (which evidence could have included brown bears strolling through my back yard in nearby Virginia), the State granted permits (on a lottery system) for the hunting of 20 bears. All twenty were taken in one day.

This year, Maryland decided that the quota should be upped to 40-55, and again there was a lottery for the licenses, as well as a mandatory hunting safety test.

The first bear to be taken was shot in remote Mount Nebo, Maryland, west of Frostburg, near both the Pennsylvania and West Virginia borders.

The 211 pound bear was brought down at 50 yards with two shots from a .243-caliber rifle.

The hunter was 8-year-old Sierra Stiles, who stands all of 4 1/2 feet high. That's her, just below, with her trophy:

Girls Rule. Story HERE, from today's WaPo.

P.S. Yes, of course, the right-thinking people think this is truly awful:

The Humane Society of the United States, which has urged Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) to ban bear hunts, expressed concern Monday over the age of the hunter and noted that the first bear killed last year was a young bear.

"Governor Ehrlich is personally responsible for exposing young children and young bears to this cruelty," read the news release.

Hmmmm. Let's see now: On the one hand, I might expose my young daughter to guns and bears. On the other hand, to MTV, the New York Times, and pudding wrestling.

Surely there are more difficult parenting issues, right?