By JIM FARIS
The Missouri Department of Conservation reporting a record-breaking black bear season in the Show-Me State, with 36 harvested. More than five thousand hunters initially applied for bear hunts, with over 1,400 purchasing permits for a chance to bag a bruin, with the state setting a hard limit of 60 bears during the two week season, October 17th to the 30th.
Bear hunts in Missouri are restricted to three sections across the southern half of Missouri, called Bear Management Zones. Permits are limited to a specific zone, and each has their own limits.
“We had another successful black bear hunting season this year,” said MDC Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist Nate Bowersock. “Despite the acorn crop potentially being above average, hunters were able to harvest a record number of bears. By increasing the number of permits this year, we provided more opportunities for Missourian to take advantage of this unique hunting experience that resulted in more bears being harvested then previously seen.”
MDC encourages hunters to learn more about bear hunting in the state HERE.