General Rules (Limit, Hours, Dogs)

• Bears may only be harvested one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
• Harvest limit is one bear per harvest permit per season.
• Bear hunting is limited to still hunt only. The use of dogs when hunting bear is prohibited.
• Harvest of cubs and females with cubs is prohibited. A cub is defined as any bear 75 pounds or less.
• Bear hunting is restricted to bona fide resident hunters who are properly licensed, hunter safety certified, and possess a valid bear hunting permit issued by the department.

Bear Hunter Training

The successful applicant will be required to attend a department bear hunter training course on either October 18, 24, or 30, prior to hunting. Individuals not attending one of these training courses may be disqualified and forfeit their bear hunting permit.  Successful youth applicants must attend bear hunting training with a properly licensed adult. The adult attending the training is responsible for supervising the youth during the bear hunt and must be within arm’s reach or within the same stand or blind as the youth. A bear tag will be issued to harvest permit holders upon completion of the training course.

Baiting and Scent Attractants

Baiting is allowed two weeks prior to season opening to the day the season closes. Hunting over raw or processed bait and the use of a scent lure is allowed. No person shall use raw sweet potatoes or chocolate as bait or scent. The use of salt, grain or other feed that could serve as an attractant to deer is prohibited in CWD Control Areas. The department shall provide a list of approved baits to each successful applicant at the bear hunting training course.

Tagging

Harvested bears must be tagged immediately upon harvest and prior to being moved from site of harvest. All successful bear hunters must immediately contact their designated department biologist (see permit) to report their kill and schedule biological data collection.

Hunter Orange or Blaze Pink

Any person hunting bears shall display on his head, chest and/or back a total of not less than 400 square inches of “hunter orange” or “blaze pink”. Persons hunting on privately owned land may wear a “hunter orange” or “blaze pink” cap or hat in lieu of the 400 square inches. These provisions shall not apply to persons hunting bear from elevated stands on property that is privately owned or to archery bear hunters hunting on lands where firearm hunting is not allowed by agreement of the landowner or lessee. However, anyone hunting bear on such lands where hunting with firearms is allowed shall be required to display the 400 square inches or a “hunter orange” or “blaze pink” cap or hat while walking to and from elevated stands. While a person is hunting from an elevated stand, the 400 square inches or cap or hat may be concealed.

Field Dressing

Harvested bears may be field-dressed, but all other portions of the bear shall be removed from the hunting grounds. Thereafter, all edible portions of meat shall be removed from the bear for consumption. “Edible portions” include, at a minimum, all four quarters, all backstraps and tenderloins along the backbone.

Methods of Take

• Bear may be taken with the following firearms, any of which may be fitted with a magnified scope:
  • Centerfire firearms .25 caliber or larger, rimfire firearms .30 caliber or larger, and shotguns 10 gauge and smaller using slugs, all of which must load exclusively from the breech.
  • Rifles and pistols, .44 caliber or larger, or shotguns 10 gauge and smaller, all of which must load exclusively from the muzzle, use black powder or approved substitute only, take ball or bullet projectile only, including saboted bullets.
  • Pre-charged pneumatic devices that fire a projectile of at least .30 caliber in diameter and at least 150 grains in weight with a minimum muzzle velocity of 800 feet per second or any combination of bullet weight and muzzle velocity that produces muzzle energy of at least 215-foot pounds of energy. Arrows or bolts used with a pre-charged pneumatic device shall only be used with well-sharpened broadhead points.
• Bear may be taken by legal archery gear with a minimum draw weight of no less than 30 pounds, including traditional bow, compound bow, crossbow, or any bow drawn, held or released by mechanical means.
• All other methods of take are prohibited.