MDC announces first black-bear season for Missouri to run this fall

The 2021 bear-hunting season will be Oct. 18 – 27 and limited to areas of southern Missouri.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces the state’s first black-bear hunting season is slated for this coming fall, Oct. 18–27.

The Missouri Conservation Commission gave final approval of MDC’s season framework, permit and harvest quotas, and other related regulations for hunting black bears in Missouri at its March 26 open meeting. The approved regulations limit bear hunting to Missouri residents and restrict bear hunting to designated areas of southern Missouri. Missouri residents will be able to apply during May for the Oct. 18-27 hunt with permit selection by July 1 through a random drawing of applicants.

Missouri’s estimated 800 (600 – 1000) black bears are found south of the Missouri River, and primarily south of Interstate 44. MDC has established three Bear Management Zones (BMZ) in southern Missouri and will issue annual permit numbers and harvest quotas for each of the three BMZs. Each permit will be for a specific BMZ and may be used on public or private property within the BMZ.

Permit and harvest quotas for the upcoming Oct. 18-27 bear season will be:

BMZ 1: Permit quota of 200 issued with a harvest quota of 20 bears.
BMZ 2: Permit quota of 150 issued with a harvest quota of 15 bears.
BMZ 3: Permit quota of 50 issued with a harvest quota of 5 bears.

The limited hunting season will be restricted to Missouri residents and will begin each year on the third Monday in October and run for 10 days or until BMZ-specific quotas are reached. Once the specific harvest quotas are filled for each BMZ, the season for that BMZ will be closed.

“Being able to add this iconic species to the long list of hunting opportunities for Missourians is a testament to the decades of bear research and management by MDC staff,” said MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “A limited annual hunting season will help manage the growing number of black bears in the state.”

MDC proposed a limited and highly regulated black-bear hunting season following several years of public comment, including informational open houses in 2019 and a public-input process in the spring and fall of 2020.

“A bear-hunting season in our state will provide opportunities for Missourians to participate in the sustainable harvest of this valuable wildlife species,” said MDC Bear Biologist Laura Conlee. “As our black bear population continues to grow, a highly regulated hunting season will be an essential part of population management into the future. The timing and length of the season, allowed hunting methods, and a limited permit allocation coupled with a limited harvest quota will ensure a sustainable harvest of our growing bear population.”

Hunting hours will be a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Hunters will be allowed to use both archery and firearms equipment with allowable methods being the same as those for deer and elk, except the use of an atlatl. Baiting and the use of dogs will not be allowed.

The harvest limit will be one bear per permit. Only lone black bears may be taken. Hunters may not take bears that are known to be in the presence of others bears, including female black bears with cubs. Bears may not be disturbed, pushed, harassed, or taken from a den. Bear hunters must wear hunter orange, make reasonable efforts to retrieve shot bears, and may not leave or abandon commonly edible portions.

All harvested bears must be telechecked by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest. Harvested bears must remain intact as a field-dressed carcass or quartered until the bear has been telechecked.

MDC will also require the submission of a tooth from each harvested bear within 10 days of harvest. This will help MDC staff with black bear research and management.

Hunters who are issued permits must call MDC each day before they intend to hunt to determine if the BMZ-specific quota has been reached. If harvest quotas are not reached, the season will close at the end of the 10 designated hunting days.

PERMIT PROCESS
MDC will offer an online bear-hunting permit-application period May 1-31 with a fee of $10 per applicant. Individuals must be Missouri residents and will be allowed to apply to hunt in one of the three designated BMZs.

Apply May 1 - 31 online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MDC's free MO Hunting app, through a permit vendor, or by calling 1-800-392-4115.

Permit selection will be determined by July 1 through a random drawing of all eligible applicants. There will be no “sit-out” period for those selected to receive permits. Applicants can check to see if they have been selected for an elk-hunting permit at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits by logging into “Manage Your Account” and selecting “View My Special Hunt History.”

Those selected will then be eligible to buy a permit at a cost of $25. Selected hunters must be 11 years of age or older and have completed hunter education (or be exempt) by the time of the hunt to purchase a permit.

MDC is not issuing landowner-specific black bear hunting permits, however, a minimum of 10 percent of zone-specific resident black bear permits will be allocated to qualifying landowners. Zone-specific permits can be used anywhere in the specified zone on public or private property (with landowner permission). To qualify, landowners must have at least 20 contiguous acres within the BMZ for which they are applying.

Qualifying landowners must first submit their property information through MDC’s Landowner Permit Application at mdc.mo.gov/landownerpermits before completing a black bear permit application.

Learn more about bear hunting in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/bear.



BEAR BACKGROUND
The black bear is one of the largest and heaviest wild mammals in Missouri with some reaching up to 500 pounds. Black bears were historically abundant throughout the forested areas of Missouri prior to European settlement but were nearly eliminated by unregulated killing in the late 1800s, as well as from habitat loss when Ozark forests were logged. However, a small number of Missouri black bears survived and reintroduction efforts in Arkansas helped to increase bear numbers in southern Missouri.

Over the last 50 years, bear numbers and range in Missouri have grown. MDC research shows that Missouri is now home to around 800 (range 600 – 1000) black bears with most found south of the Missouri River and primarily south of Interstate 44. Missouri bear range is expanding, and bear numbers are increasing each year by approximately 9% and are expected to double in less than 10 years.

Additionally, Missouri’s bear population is connected to a larger bear population in the surrounding states of Arkansas and Oklahoma, both of which have established bear-hunting seasons.

MDC’s 2020-2030 Black Bear Management Plan will guide bear management in Missouri for the next decade. Learn more about black bears in Missouri and MDC management efforts at mdc.mo.gov/bears.

with in 10 yeas they well be state wide.

Leave it to the state of Missouri brain trust to institute a draw hunt with a harvest quota.

Why would anyone waste their time applying for a draw when if they succeed in drawing a tag, expend time and resources scouting, burn vacation time for their hunt, then get told by MDC a day or two in to the season that the season is closed and the tag they drew is now void.

This does nothing but solidify my position that no employee of MDC has any clue or concept about wildlife and it’s management.

FYI, MDC has initiated a ban on hunting or pursuing rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, possums, coyote, fox with dogs during the bear season. As of yet MDC is not publicizing it but a few conservation agents I know are anticipating a windfall of tickets to be written for those specific violations.

I thought it was a weird system too but they have to start somewhere. I will not apply as I have never seen bear sign on my property. It would honestly be a difficult hunt unless one had them around since there is no baiting or hound hunting. I also reckon people will cheat and bait anyway just like many do for deer and turkeys. <--- I have a neighbor who does just that.

I will put in again for elk though.

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It would honestly be a difficult hunt unless one had them around since there is no baiting or hound hunting

With those few bear numbers. Very hard indeed.

We have around 30,000 plus bears in Wis, I can count on one hand the number. I have of seen over the last 55 years. That I could have shot during a hunting season. With out bait or dogs.

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Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

It would honestly be a difficult hunt unless one had them around since there is no baiting or hound hunting

With those few bear numbers. Very hard indeed.

We have around 30,000 plus bears in Wis, I can count on one hand the number. I have of seen over the last 55 years. That I could have shot during a hunting season. With out bait or dogs.

That would be awesome to have that many bears but I doubt MO ever had so many. There really isn't much for swampland here in the Ozarks. I doubt all the cattle ranchers will tolerate large bear numbers either. There is certainly enough upland habitat but not so sure that would support a large population.

Don't need swampland for bears. Give them food, shelter, protection and they well live any where.

In 10 years you well have a lot more bears

No swamp land in west Texas but there are bears! Just like everything else, give em water, food and shelter, they will survive. Give them an abundance, they will reproduce!

Oh, I am sure bears will do okay here I just think they will not be in the concentration like you see in swampy country. I'm in the southern portion of Zone 3. Have never seen any bear sign here and I am surrounded by lots of uninhabited land. No feral pork either.

If you do a 10% population increase each year (most likely low)

You end up with close to 4000 bears in 10 years.

Very doable

Excelsior MO has one that raids trash cans. I suppose that you will never hear about it. They say there aren't enough to hunt there and I believe it. I don't think the farmers in those counties north of the big MO will tolerate losing calves to black bears. But I am like you in that I will continue to put in for Elk tags. Who knows maybe I will get a tag? Be Well, Packy.

My farm is North of the Missouri River and I’ve found tracks and scat along the creek several years ago. I know a couple people who consistently get trail cam pics and video in Montgomery and Warren Counties between the Missouri River and I 70. Lots of sightings over the past 10 years in Washington, MO too.
Based on my observations hunting in many locations around the state is that MDC’s population estimate is about 1000-1500 below what it actually is.

I'm actually surprised I have never had any bear on my property.

I think your herd protectors have the area mostly clean of serious predators? Be Well, Packy.