BEAR
FORECAST 2015
“THE 2015 BEAR SEASON IS LOOKING LIKE
A GREAT CHANCE TO NOTCH YOUR TAG.”BLACK BEARS are not only a popular species for bowhunters to pursue, they are also one of the most plentiful. Numbers can
get a little boring, but not these. Almost a quarter of the states and provinces responding to the Bowhunter Magazine survey
about black bear hunting reported an improvement in their hunting forecast compared to last year. Even more impressive, 98
percent reported “Stable” or “Increasing” bear populations. Plus, 80 percent described hunting opportunities as “Excellent” or
“Very Good,” and none of the respondents rated their opportunities below “Good.” Tat said, it’s time to think about blocking
of some days and getting ready to chase bruins. But when? And where?
Spring bear season (generally April through June) is almost exclusively a Canadian excursion, as few of the Lower 48 states
have one. My good friend Wayne and his wife, Elaine, both frst-time Canadian bear hunters, traveled to Saskatchewan in June
last year for their anniversary. Tey saw dozens of bears, and Elaine arrowed a huge boar with a body that seemed to dwarf its
i mpres sive 18^15 ⁄ 16 skull. Teir experience was, as Wayne described it, “About as ideal as you can get, if
you want to see a lot of bears and have a chance to shoot a trophy.” Teir hunt was conducted from a
lodge, and the mornings were spent shooting bows, preparing clothing and equipment, and relax-
ing. Te hunting hours started afer lunch and lasted until it was dark. Most spring camps run on
a similar schedule, the weather is usually mild and pleasant, and there are ofen opportunities to
enjoy other activities, like fshing.
Most states and provinces have a fall bear season. Dates vary widely from August through
December, but some have bowhunting-only opportunities. With a bit of research, you will see
that some unique opportunities exist to hunt multiple species in the fall. For example, New
Hampshire has overlapping archery deer and bear seasons (for several weeks, no less).
An exciting prospect for fall bear hunters is the eforts of New Jersey Division of Fish and
Wildlife Principal Biologist Kelcey Burgess to get a bowhunting-only season in the Garden
State. Bowhunting is a unique tool that can help manage bear populations that impact the
urban and suburban areas of his densely populated state. “We are trying to maximize the
opportunities for hunters in this area, as well as the surrounding states,” Burgess said.
He explained that during the general bear season, hunters from 29 diferent states
took to the feld in New Jersey. “We have some huge bears here,” he said,
“and the chance of shooting a trophy is very good.” What’s even bet-
ter, and frankly amazing, is the permit to go afer a bear in New
Jersey is just $2 afer purchasing a $135 nonresident license (which
allows you to harvest two antlered deer as well). Tere is a possibil-
ity for a mid-October bear season in 2015, although the legislation
process was still underway at the time this was written.
Last year, several acquaintances asked me about the possi-
bility of grizzly bear hunting in the Lower 48. I discussed the topic
with Dan Bjornlie, the Large Carnivore Biologist for the Wyoming Game
& Fish Department. His eforts have helped make his program a leader in
monitoring grizzly bear issues regionally. “Te Yellowstone ecosystem, which en-
compasses parts of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, has a very strong population of
grizzly bears,” Bjornlie explained, “and the distribution has expanded a lot.”
“We’ve got grizzlies as far south as the southern Wind River Mountains, and that
wasn’t the case 10 years ago,” Bjornlie said. Bear recovery is (biologically) a slow pro-
cess, and these kinds of statistics refect the hard work of Dan and his colleagues.
Since they are still on the Endangered Species List, the topic of de-listing grizzlies is
ofen a political issue that can stir up a lot of emotion. Only time will tell if hunting
them will take place in the Lower 48.
So regardless of where you go, or what season you choose, the 2015 bear season is
looking like a great chance to notch your tag. Te data table will help you get an idea of
what looks like a good ft. Be sure to follow-up by contacting the state or province’s wildlife
department to get the most up-to-date information on seasons, license requirements, and
costs. Good hunting. ❮❮❮By John Solomon
®48 >BOWHUNTER APRIL/MAY 2015