AR-News: (US) Davy Crockett, aka Fess Parker, lobbies for ban on baiting of bears

[Michael Markarian]

Davy Crockett, aka Fess Parker, lobbies for ban on baiting of bears

242 words
15 July 2003
05:55 am GMT
Associated Press Newswires
English
Copyright 2003. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Backers of a bill to ban hunters' use of bear bait are
resurrecting the name of legendary legislator Davy Crockett, who served
three terms in Congress before his death at the Alamo in 1836.

"I kilt me a b'ar when I was only 3. And never needed to bait 'em with a
stale pizza or box of doughnuts," actor Fess Parker, as Crockett, is
quoted in a flyer being circulated in the Capitol.

Parker, now a prominent California wine maker and real estate developer,
shot to fame in the 1950s portraying the "king of the wild frontier." In
a telephone interview Monday from Los Olivos, Calif., he said he lent
his name to the legislation at the request of the bill's author, Rep.
Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley.

"Unfortunately, I did kill a bear in my life and it was too easy and
unfair," Parker said.

While the former actor said he did not use bait to lure the bear he shot
for the old ABC television program "The American Sportsman," he sees no
need to give hunters any more of an advantage.

Bear-baiting already is illegal on federal lands in 41 states, including
California. Gallegly has 175 co-sponsors for the bill, but faces strong
opposition in the House Resources Committee.

Opponents say the bill would make it hard to control bear populations.