Girl, 8, bags first bear of season
Date: Oct 25, 2005 11:52 AM
PUBLICATION: The Telegram (St. John’s)
DATE: 2005.10.25
SECTION: International News
PAGE: B4
WORD COUNT: 129

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Girl, 8, bags first bear of season

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An 8-year-old girl killed the first black bear of Maryland’s 2005
hunting season, downing the 96-kilogram adult male with two shots from a
.243-calibre rifle about an hour after dawn Monday, the Department of
Natural Resources said.

Sierra Stiles was hunting on her family’s farm in southern Garrett
County, said Paul Peditto, director of the agency’s Wildlife and
Heritage Division.

Maryland law sets no minimum age limit for hunters, but first-timers
must pass a course and show that they can safely handle and shoot a
firearm. Sierra scored 98 per cent on her safety test, Peditto said. Six
bears were registered by 5 p.m. Monday. State wildlife managers set a
quota of 40 to 55 bears for the hunt, which runs through Saturday.