In case anyone cares the third Maryland bear hunt in fifty years ended after two days. Here's the DNR's report.


2006 Maryland Black Bear Hunt Closed Effective Immediately
DNR Announces 2006 Black Bear Hunt Harvest Numbers; 3rd Hunt Declared Success
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MT. NEBO -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the 2006 Maryland Black Bear hunt closed effective immediately.
The 2006 bear season opened Monday, October 23, one half-hour before sunrise in Garrett and Allegany counties. As the check stations closed at 8 p.m., Tuesday, October 24, 41 bears have been reported to official check stations. The harvest objective for the 2006 bear hunt was 35-55 bears. The results remain unofficial pending final reporting of bears taken Tuesday that could be legally checked-in Wednesday.

The estimated average weight of the bears taken this year was 157 lbs. The largest was a 464 lb. male bear taken by William Corbin of Oakland in Garrett County.

The hunt by the numbers:

41 bears harvested
37 from Garrett County, 2 from Allegany
157 lbs. average weight
80% of the bears were taken on private land
65% of successful hunters live in the hunt area
451 hunters participated in the hunt and 2,402 hunters applied for a permit.

Glad to see they got their hunt going again...

MG