Black bears within the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River historically have been off limits to hunters, prized more as apex fauna to view while floating the Wild Rogue than as sausage, burger meat and perhaps even a floor rug.

But biologists say times have changed, and so have the population and bravado of bears in the Rogue corridor, as they brazenly raid rafting camps and increasingly see people as a food source instead of something to fear.

Following a record year of bear complaints here, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking to allow hunters into the Wild Rogue to hunt black bears off riverside gravel bars during limited times as a way to cull…