Like your tagline.
I would guess it might be more sporting to be able to capture the bear in a safe manner, and send it to a wildlife preserve or a DNA/genome repository, or a zoo somewhere. Killing a treed bear with a high powered rifle is much easier, almost unfair.. However, I would think that if bear killed a human being, or unnecessarily attacked humans, or was eaten by hungry, starving people it would be ok to kill the bear...
IMHO....flames accepted.
Bears taste really good and make nice hides/rugs.
Do not know of any way to eat a bear when it is alive.
How do you capture a bear in a safe manner.
Then safe for who you or the bear.
Some where over 50,000 bears are killed each year.
Where are you going to find enough zoos to take them all.