Crossword Genius

Beginning to target male bears in rural areas (3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

the sticks

'rural areas' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'beginning to target male bears' is the wordplay.
'beginning to' indicates taking the first letters.
'male' becomes 'he'.
'bears' becomes 'sticks'.
The initial letter of 'target' is 't'.
't'+'he'+'sticks'='THE STICKS'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for the sticks that I've seen before include "country areas" , "backward area" , "They limit goals" , "rural areas" , "What a keeper has to mind" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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