Missouri Hunters Harvest 36 Black Bears in Sixth Regulated Season
Missouri hunters harvested 36 black bears during the state’s sixth regulated bear hunting season, which ran from October 17 to 30, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). The two-week window brought out participants across designated southern zones, testing regional harvest limits.
More than 5,200 hunters applied for 2,000 available permits. MDC selected 2,000 applicants through a random drawing, and nearly 1,490 hunters ultimately purchased permits for the season, which carried a statewide harvest limit of 60 bears. State regulations restrict bear hunting exclusively to Missouri residents operating within three designated Bear Management Zones (BMZs) in the southern portion of the state, with each permit tied to a specific zone for use on public or private land.
Hunters Take Twenty-Nine Bears in Zone One
Harvest distribution varied widely across the three management areas. In Bear Management Zone 1, hunters took 29 bears against a maximum allowable limit of 30. Bear Management Zone 2 recorded seven harvested bears out of a limit of 22, while Bear Management Zone 3 reported no harvests despite having a limit of eight.
Firearms accounted for the vast majority of the take, with 34 bears harvested using firearms methods. Archery equipment accounted for the remaining two. Of the 36 total bears harvested, 23 were males and 13 were females.
“We had another successful black bear hunting season this year,” said MDC Black Bear/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.”
