The Michigan Natural Resources Commission has approved regulations that eliminate the training of hounds for five days before the opening day of bear seasons and limit the number of bait sites individuals may maintain.

The regulations are a result of requests from hunters.

The five-day restriction of hound training prior to the season will give Upper Peninsula bait hunters a 10-day period, including the first five days of the season, during which their baits will be undisturbed by hounds. In the Lower Peninsula, the running of hounds will continue to be illegal through the first day of bear season.

Houndsmen, however, will be able begin training dogs on July 8, a week earlier than previously allowed. Hound hunters also will be allowed to hunt bears for two additional days at the end of the season in the Lower Peninsula.

The NRC approved regulations limiting bait sites to three per hunter and, in the case of people who maintain baits for others, no more than 12 baits per individual.

Overall, the NRC approved license quotas resulting in approximately 10 percent fewer licenses in 2009 than last year, with reductions primarily in the western Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. The reduced quotas were based on hunter success rates and are designed to stabilize the bear population in the western U.P., increase the population in the eastern U. P., and reduce the population slightly in the northern Lower Peninsula.

The Department of Natural Resources wildlife staff forecast a harvest of about 15 percent fewer bears because of the quota reductions. Last year hunters killed 2,346 bears.

In the Upper Peninsula, hunt periods will be Sept 10 - Oct. 21, Sept. 15- Oct. 26 and Sept 25 - Oct. 26, except for Drummond Island, which is Sept 10- Oct. 21 only.

In the Lower Peninsula, the Red Oak Management Unit hunts will be Sept. 18-26 and Oct. 2-8 for archery only. The Baldwin Unit hunts are Sept. 11-26 in the northern area and Sept. 18-26 in the remainder of the unit. The Gladwin Unit hunt is Sept. 18-26.

Bear licenses are issued by lottery, with an application period of May 1 - June 1.