Going on a Bear Hunt? A Guide for Every Black Bear Hunting Season
In the heart of the forest, the beat of nature pumps through the underbrush. Leaves rustle with the wind, spots of sun flicker across the forest floor, a brook babbles.
Without sound, a bear mosies in, humble and formidable at once. The birds pay no mind, the squirrel doesn’t bother to care. The forest’s song continues on.
But the hunter, hidden in the timbered tapestry, no longer hears the birds chirp or the brook babble. Their ears ring with anticipation. Neck hairs stand, ready. Months of preparation have led to this moment. Time hangs suspended.
In a heartbeat, a discordant note slices the air. The forest nearly hushes before humming back to life. The wind catches a shaky exhale and carries it into the dark timber.
—
Black bear hunting is a time-honored tradition many people look forward to each year. Populations and regulations vary from state to state, providing hunters with diverse opportunities to pursue the creature. From the dense forests of the Northeast to the rugged meadows of the West, each region offers black bear hunters challenges and rewards.
In this article, we discuss essential bear hunting tips for spring vs. fall, explore how black bear hunting differs across geographies, share helpful onX Hunt features, and provide state-by-state snapshots of basic black bear rules and regulations.
When Is Black Bear Hunting Season?
Black bear hunting seasons vary by state. As of early 2024, six states hold a spring black bear season, 34 states hold a fall black bear season, one state holds an official summer season, and 15 states do not have a black bear hunting season. Hound hunting is allowed in 17 states, while 12 states allow baiting. Spring seasons tend to open in April and fall seasons generally begin around September.
See the state-by-state summary section for a brief overview of black bear hunting, including seasons, across the country.
Scouting for Black Bears
Black bear hunting is often about putting in the time, and black bear scouting can be trickier than for other game. Black bears can cover large territories and they do not generally predictably circle back to preferred areas.
For comparison, analyses indicate that whitetail deer home ranges tend to be anywhere from just over 100 acres to just under two square miles (~1,300 acres). Studies estimate whitetail deer move about two miles per day (with bucks moving around five miles per day in the rut).
Meanwhile, in some areas, a male black bear’s home range can measure 290 square miles (that’s over 185,000 acres) on the high end, and they can travel 15 miles in a day. Where you spot bear sign in July is not likely where you’ll harvest a bear come September.
Spring Bear Hunts
When e-scouting for spring black bears, think about areas likely to carry budding signs of spring greenery. You might also check coulees and avalanche shoots in the early season as bears may be scavenging for winterkill.
Black bears also like edge habitats. Scout for meadows or openings (i.e. places likely to have food) that butt up against timber lines (i.e. protection).
In the May to June timeframe, elk calves and deer fawns drop, and black bears may start to focus on these meat food sources. Likewise, if you focus your attention on where deer and elk are during this timeframe, you may find yourself a bruin.
Once you’ve narrowed in on a few bear-y spots on the map, when boots hit the ground, you’re primarily looking for four things:
- Scat: Probably the most obvious and prevalent sign, bear droppings are a sign you’re on the right track.
- Tracks: Spend enough time searching for a bear, and you’re likely to find a track, especially if you choose to go out after a rain or early in the season when the ground is wet. If you live in an area with black bears and grizzlies, make sure you can spot the difference in paw print patterns between the two.
- Areas that look like they’ve been ransacked. As bears ramble through an area, they may tear apart logs, scrape bark off trees, overturn rocks, and trample small brush.
- Beds: Trickier to see, you may find bear beds in cool, shaded areas protected by cover.
You may find that black bears are more predictable in the spring than in the fall. Early in the spring, when a bear is phasing out of torpor, its appetite is actually said to be relatively small. A black bear might feed on a little grass, go back to its sleeping area, come back to the same feeding spot, and repeat. This pattern can lend itself to a level of predictability that is not seen in the fall when bears wander from food source to food source. If you find bear scat in the spring, the bear may still be in the area.
Another factor that can make spring black bear hunting more predictable, or at least more dynamic, than fall black bear hunting is the rut. In late spring, boars start cruising for sows, so you’re more likely to see activity throughout the day.
Fall Bear Hunts
Fall scouting looks much the same as spring. It’s all about finding a bear’s food sources, especially as they enter into hyperphagia. In some places, fall offers a lot of different types of food sources, so the trick is understanding which ones the bears prefer that year.
If you can find fresh bear scat, see if you can identify what’s in the droppings, and then go find that food source. Early in the fall season, berries are often a go-to. As the season progresses, food sources may transition to things like acorns. Look for water sources, too, especially during the hotter portions of the season.
What Time of Day Are Black Bears Most Active?
Black bears are crepuscular, meaning mornings and evenings tend to be prime time. That said, bears do move throughout the day, and hunters can be successful midday, too.
Black Bear Hunting Gear
The black bear hunting gear you need depends entirely on your hunt. Are you going to be facing mood-swing weather and deadfall terrain in the mountains, or are you going to be in a treestand in T-shirt temperatures?
Regardless of where you’re hunting, aside from your firearm or bow, there are select pieces of gear you’ll want to have:
Basic Gear:
- Boots
- Pack
- Knife
- Game bags
- Binos or spotting scope
- If mountain hunting, you’ll benefit from merino base layers, a puffy (even in warm months), and a rain jacket. Actually, you’ll probably benefit from these if you’re hanging over a food source or bait station, too. Pack ‘em.
The Best Rifle for Bear Hunting
Much discussion has been had regarding the best rifle cartridge for black bear hunting. Generally, the best rifle for black bear hunting is one that you shoot well and can carry a legal round. If you deer hunt, the firearm you use for that will work just fine. Pressed to provide specifics, some might recommend a .270, 150 grain, or a .30-06.
Bear Anatomy
Shot placement for a black bear demands precision. Bears have muscular shoulders, thick fur, and fat, making hitting the right part of a bear’s anatomy all the more important.
Where To Shoot a Bear
As for shot placement, a black bear’s vital organs sit a little further back than deer and elk. When you get a shot at a black bear, we recommend aiming for “center of center,” or a little further back from the front shoulder crease than you would for some other game.
If the bear is broadside, aim slightly above the midway point of the body and about four to six inches back from the front shoulder to ensure you are in the biggest portion of the lungs. As with most animals, waiting for a good broadside shot is important.
Dial In Your Shooting Skills
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onX Hunt Features for Black Bear Hunting
Ambush Hunting
Tracker: If you’re posting up in a treestand or ground blind, you can use the Tracker to trace and record the ideal path to and from your favored spots to minimize disruption.
Leaf-Off Imagery (where available): Bears tend to enjoy dense cover. If you’re hunting in an area where Leaf-Off Imagery is available and you’re an Elite Member, head over to your Basemaps to toggle this feature on. With Leaf-Off Imagery on, you can see past the canopy to the forest floor to better pick apart the terrain.
Waypoints: Drop a Waypoint where you see bear sign while you’re scouting. During the season, use a Waypoint to pinpoint bait stations, if applicable. Waypoints are shareable, which is handy if you happen to be hunting with a partner or with a hunting party, where allowed.
Spot and Stalk Hunting
Trees, Crops, & Cover Map Layers: This Map Layer category is home to the Historic Wildfire Map Layer, which keys in on burn areas. A few years after a wildfire, a burn area starts to teem with young sprouts. Tap on “Hunt Map Layers” to check it out.
Compass Mode + Rangefinder: Bear hunting success can hinge on your spot and stalk skills. With onX Hunt’s Compass Mode and Rangefinder, you can take the guesswork out of closing the distance when you finally get an eyeful of a bear. Watch this video to see how it works.
Recent Imagery: Access to public lands can be difficult in the spring, especially after heavy snow years. Recent Imagery is updated every two weeks and can help you assess how much snow is in an area before you head out.
Terrain X: If you’re an Elite Member, head to your computer to use Terrain X on the Web Map. You can set specific elevation bands, slope angles, and slope aspects and then use the view shed to see exactly which pieces of land you’ll be able to see from a specific vantage.
Black Bear Meat
How Much Meat Can You Get From a Black Bear?
Yes, you’ll hear about 700+ lbs chonkers in some areas, but a lot of black bear hunters find themselves surprised at the animal’s modest size when they get up and close, especially for mountain black bears.
Black bear weights vary greatly and depend on several variables, including available food sources, seasons, age, and gender. A Midwest boar in the fall who’s been gorging on corn crop for months might tip the scales at 500 lbs, while a Rocky Mountain sow who just emerged from her den could stand at a feather-weight 90 lbs.
No matter what your bear weighs, once it’s deboned and trimmed, you’re looking at putting about a third of its weight on the table as lean meat.
Black Bear Meat Care
Bears can have thick layers of insulative fat, especially in the fall. You should skin your bear immediately upon harvest and work to cool the meat as soon as possible.
Cooking with Bear Meat
Because bear meat can carry the trichinella roundworm parasite and must be cooked well-done (170ºF for at least 15 seconds), many people enjoy processing their bears into ground meat and roasts, which can be turned into burgers, chili, meatballs, slow cooker delights, and more—all of which can withstand a high degree of cooking and still be delectable.
Sausage and hot sticks are also great uses of black bear meat as it tends to have a bit of marbling.
Some people also swear by the cooking powers of bear grease. When you get your next bear, save whatever fat you can and render it for baking recipes.
Black Bear Hunting: State-by-State
Below is a state-by-state rundown of black bear hunting seasons. Regulations change from year to year. As always, you should consult the appropriate state’s full regulations. The below offers broad information to give you a sense of black bear hunting opportunities across the country.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Year-round
License availability: Draw, general season, and registration hunts. All non-residents must have appropriate big game locking-tags. Unlike grizzly/brown bear hunts, you do not need a guide.
Baiting allowed? Yes.
Dogs allowed? Yes, on a case-by-case basis.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs.
Reporting Requirements: Certain black bear units have sealing requirements, meaning you must take the skull and/or hide to a designated sealing officer within 30 days of harvest.
Harvest Notes: If hunting between January 1 and May 31, you must salvage the meat. If hunting in a unit where sealing is required, you must also salvage the hide and skull between January 1 and May 31. From June 1 to December 31, if you’re hunting in a unit where sealing is required, you must salvage the hide and skull OR the skull and meat. If hunting in a unit between June 1 and December 31 where sealing is NOT required, then either the hide OR the meat must be salvaged.
Read more about Alaska black bear regulations.
Seasons: Spring and fall. Spring generally runs from late March to late April. Fall generally starts in August and runs through December.
License availability: A draw in the spring and over-the-counter (OTC) in the fall.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes, only in the fall.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs. One bear bag limit.
Reporting Requirements: Report your harvest within 48 hours. Within 10 days of harvest, bring the bear’s skull and hide with attached proof of sex to Arizona Game and Fish for inspection.
Read more about Arizona black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, from September to December, with dates dependent on area and method of take.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? Yes.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit.
Reporting Requirements: You must submit a premolar to AGFC within seven days of receiving your sampling package from AGFC.
Read more about Arkansas black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, August through December, with dates dependent on area and method of take.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs or bears under 50 lbs. One bear bag limit.
Reporting Requirements: You must present the skull in person within 10 days of harvest for premolar sample collection. You must retain skin and ears for the season and 15 days post-season. Bear tag holders must submit a harvest report whether they hunted or not.
Read more about California black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, September through November.
License availability: Limited draws, unlimited OTC, and add-on OTC licenses for certain archery and muzzleloader deer and elk game management units.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must present the pelt and head to Colorado Parks and Wildlife within five business days of harvest.
Read more about Colorado black bear regulations.
No black bear hunting season.
No black bear hunting season.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Fall only, running September to January, with dates differing based on area and method of take.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes, in certain areas.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs or bears under 75 lbs. Two bear bag limit per season, except in the
Central and Southern Zones, where there’s a one bear bag limit
Reporting Requirements: You must report your harvest within 24 hours (though certain areas may have differing requirements).
Read more about Georgia black bear regulations.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Spring and fall. Spring generally runs from April to June and fall runs from August to November. Dates vary by unit.
License availability: A draw in the spring and OTC in the fall. Unfilled Nonresident deer and elk tags can be used to harvest a black bear.
Baiting allowed? Yes.
Dogs allowed? Yes, except where prohibited.
Restrictions: Now sows with cubs. One bear bag limit per legal tag.
Reporting Requirements: Report your skull and hide with proof of sex attached to Idaho Fish and Game in person within 10 days.
Harvest Notes: You’re not required to salvage the meat (though, if you don’t, you’re missing out on those bear burgers we mentioned above).
Read more about Idaho black bear regulations.
No black bear hunting season.
No black bear hunting season.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Fall only, from late October to mid-December, with dates differing by area and method of take.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes, in certain units for certain dates. Dogs must be a recognized bear hunting breed.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs or bears under 75 lbs. One bear bag limit.
Reporting Requirements: You must telecheck your bear by 8 pm Eastern on the day of harvest. Within 24 hours (and before removing the harvested bear from the Bear Zone), you must call to schedule a physical check, where you will need to present either a carcass or a skull and hide with proof of sex.
Read more about Kentucky black bear regulations.
In April 2024, Louisiana approved a limited resident-only, lottery-based black bear hunt in which 10 tags will be given out for select areas. The season is proposed to run December 7th through the 22nd.
Seasons: Fall only, from late August into November with dates differing by area and method of take.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? Yes.
Dogs allowed? Yes. No more than six. Nonresidents must use a guide to hunt with dogs.
Trapping allowed? Yes.
Restrictions: Allowed one bear by trapping and one bear by hunting. No hunting on Sundays. No restrictions in place related to cubs or sows with cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must register your bear within 18 hours at the closest tagging station (exceptions may apply), where you’ll need to submit a tooth from your bear for aging purposes.
Read more about Maine black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, for a short span in October.
License availability: Draw.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. No restrictions related to sows and cubs.
Reporting Requirements: The head and hide with proof of sex attached to one hindquarter need to remain together to be reported to an official bear checking station within 24 hours of harvest.
Read more about Maryland black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, with a first season in September, a second season in November, and a shotgun season in December.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. No hunting on Sundays. No restrictions related to sows and cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must report your bear either online or at a check station within 48 hours of harvest. You are encouraged to submit a tooth to MassWildlife.
Read more about Massachusetts black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, in September and October.
License availability: Draw, with 5% available for non-residents. If available, residents may purchase leftover tags.
Baiting allowed? Yes, in certain areas at certain times.
Dogs allowed? Yes, in certain areas at certain times. No more than eight.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs or bears measuring fewer than 42 inches from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. One bear bag limit.
Reporting Requirements: Within 72 hours of harvest, the bear head and pelt, or the entire animal, must be brought to a bear registration station for examination, sealing, and registration.
Read more about Michigan black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, September into October.
License availability: Draw and OTC.
Baiting allowed? Yes.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit in a quota area and one bear bag limit in a no-quota area. No shooting collared bears, white bears, or cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must submit a tooth sample. Within 48 hours of harvest, you must register the bear in person, online, or via phone. If you choose to register online or via the phone, you will need to go to a registration station for a tooth envelope.
Read more about Minnesota black bear regulations.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Fall only, for a short span in October.
License availability: Resident-only draw.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: You must call a hotline daily to understand if harvest quotas have been met. One bear bag limit. You cannot harvest a bear that’s with another bear, including sows and cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must submit a premolar tooth within 10 days of harvest.
Read more about Missouri black bear regulations.
Seasons: Spring and fall. Spring runs from mid-April into June. Fall runs from early September into November.
License availability: OTC. You must pass a bear identification test to prove you understand the physical differences between grizzly bears and black bears.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes, in some areas in the spring only. You cannot use dogs in grizzly bear habitat.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. No sows with cubs or cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must report your harvest within 48 hours (of reaching a trailhead). A premolar must be submitted within 10 days, and in Regions 2-7, you must present the hide and skull in person within 10 days.
Read more about Montana black bear regulations.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Fall only, mid-September to December with dates differing by area and method of take.
License availability: Draw. You must attend a black bear course before the season. Hunters successful in
drawing may not apply again for five years.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. You must call a hotline daily to understand if the quota has been met. No sows with cubs.
Reporting Requirements: Hunt surveys must be submitted regardless of successful harvest.
Harvest Notes: You are not required to take the meat (though, if you don’t, you’re missing out on those bear burgers we mentioned above).
Read more about Nevada black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, September through November.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? Yes, in certain wildlife management units during certain timeframes.
Dogs allowed? Yes, in certain wildlife management units during certain timeframes.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit, though hunters can get another bear tag for the White Mountains region. No rules related to sows with cubs (though officials ask people to avoid taking a sow with cubs).
Reporting Requirements: You are required to present the bear with proof of sex attached within 24 hours of harvest.
Read more about New Hampshire black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, with an archery and muzzleloader season in October and a shotgun and muzzleloader season in December.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs or bears under 75 lbs. One bear bag limit per segment.
Reporting Requirements: You must report to a mandatory bear check-in station with the bear’s proof of sex attached.
Read more about New Jersey black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, August into December.
License availability: Draw and OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes, except in wildlife management areas and during September archery.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. No sows with cubs or cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must present the carcass tag, skull, and hide with proof of sex attached for pelt tagging and tooth removal within five days of harvest.
Harvest Notes: You’re not required to salvage the meat (though, if you don’t, you’re missing out on those bear burgers we mentioned above).
Read more about New Mexico black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, September through December.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. In certain areas, you cannot take a bear that’s with any other bears or a cub.
Reporting Requirements: You are required to report your harvest within seven days. You are encouraged to submit a premolar.
Read more about New York black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, October to January 1, with dates dependent on the unit.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? Yes, but baiting with processed products is illegal, and bears cannot be taken while
consuming unprocessed bait.
Dogs allowed? Yes, in certain areas.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs or bears under 75 lbs. One bear bag limit.
Reporting Requirements: You must submit a premolar by January 31 following the applicable season.
Read more about North Carolina black bear regulations.
No black bear hunting season.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Fall only, with archery in October and muzzleloader into November.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? Yes, but not in wildlife management areas.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. No taking collared bears. No sows with cubs or cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must report your harvest. The head and sex organs must remain naturally attached to the skin until the bear is checked by a department employee.
Read more about Oklahoma black bear regulations.
Seasons: Spring and fall. Spring runs April through May and fall runs August through December.
License availability: Draw for spring and OTC for fall.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit per tag. No sows with cubs or cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must present the skull to ODFW within 10 days and you are required to complete online reporting.
Read more about Oregon black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, September into December (for select units).
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: Hunting is generally not allowed on Sundays, except on select dates. One bear bag limit per tag (i.e. it’s possible to take more than one bear per year). No rules related to sows and cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must report your bear (tagged head and hide) in person at a check station within 24 hours of harvest.
Read more about Pennsylvania black bear regulations.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Fall only, in October.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No (except on private land in Game Zone 4 with unprocessed bait).
Dogs allowed? Yes, in certain areas on certain dates.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. No sows with cubs or bears under 100 lbs.
Reporting Requirements: You must report your harvest by midnight on the day of the harvest.
Read more about South Carolina black bear regulations.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Fall only, October through December, with dates differing by unit and method of take.
License availability: OTC for non-quota hunts.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes, in certain areas on certain dates.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. No sows with cubs or bears under 75 lbs.
Reporting Requirements: A mandatory tooth sample must be submitted by February 15 after harvest.
Read more about Tennessee black bear regulations.
No black bear hunting season.
Seasons: Spring, summer, and fall seasons. Spring generally runs in April and May. Summer runs from late May through June, with some restricted pursuit units open in July. Fall runs in August and November, with a couple of units open in September and October.
License availability: Draw. If you are successful in drawing, you need to complete a black bear training course.
Baiting allowed? Yes, but only in some units during the summer season.
Dogs allowed? Yes, for some hunts. No more than 16 dogs in the spring and fall. No more than eight dogs in the summer.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit per tag. No sows with cubs or cubs. Hunters are asked to avoid taking a collared bear.
Reporting Requirements: You must report your skull and pelt with proof of sex in person within 48 hours of harvest. A tooth sample will be taken.
Harvest Notes: You’re not required to salvage the meat (though, if you don’t, you’re missing out on those bear burgers we mentioned above).
Read more about Utah black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, September into November.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes, no more than six.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. Hunters are encouraged to avoid taking a sow with cubs.
Reporting Requirements: Hunters are required to collect and submit a premolar tooth from each harvested bear. You must report the bear carcass to Vermont Fish & Wildlife within 48 hours.
Read more about Vermont black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only. Archery runs from October into November, muzzleloader is in November, and firearm season generally occurs from October into January.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes, but only in certain areas during firearm season.
Restrictions: One bear bag limit. Bears must weigh at least 100 lbs. No sows with cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must report your harvest online or via phone.
Harvest Notes: If you harvest a bear with mange, because mange can be contracted by humans, you are not required to handle the carcass. However, you will have filled your tag and you must report the bear along with a photo.
Read more about Virginia black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, from August into November.
License availability: OTC. If hunting in grizzly bear habitat, you must pass a bear identification test.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: Two bear bag limit. Hunters are discouraged from taking a sow with cubs.
Reporting Requirements: You must submit a premolar within five days of harvest or by a specified date, usually in December. Anyone who purchases a tag must report their hunting activity after the season closes, even if they did not hunt.
Read more about Washington black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, September through December.
Restrictions: Two bear bag limit, no more than one bear in a day. No bears with cubs or bears under 75 lbs.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? No.
Dogs allowed? Yes, but not during archery or crossbow seasons.
Reporting Requirements: Within 24 hours, you must electronically report your bear. You must submit the first premolar by January 31.
Read more about West Virginia black bear regulations.
Seasons: Fall only, September into October.
License availability: Draw.
Baiting allowed? Yes.
Dogs allowed? Yes, no more than six.
Restrictions: The bear must be at least 42 inches from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. No sows with cubs.
Reporting Requirements: The head and the neck have to remain attached to one of the other parts of the animal, not including the hide, until you register the bear with DNR. You must report your bear by 5 pm the day after recovery and can do so online, via phone, or in person. You are required to submit two premolars by October 15.
Read more about Wisconsin black bear regulations.
Seasons: Spring and fall. Spring runs from mid-April to mid-June. Fall runs from mid-August to mid-November.
License availability: OTC.
Baiting allowed? Yes.
Dogs allowed? No.
Restrictions: No sows with cubs or cubs. One bear bag limit per license.
Reporting Requirements: You must register the skull and pelt with proof of sex in person within 72 hours (some exceptions apply). Two premolar teeth will be collected.
Harvest Notes: You’re not required to salvage the meat (though, if you don’t, you’re missing out on those bear burgers we mentioned above).
Read more about Wyoming black bear regulations.
So which season is better for black bear hunting: spring or fall? Which state is the best?
We’ll let you debate those age-old questions among friends over the next campfire.