Estimated
Bear Previous Percent
State/Province Forecast Population Harvest Success Spring Season Fall Season
Alaska (grizzly) Good 30,000 1,900 (2012) Unknown Vary widely by mgt. unit Vary widely by mgt. unit
Alaska (black) Excellent 100,000 3,250 (2012) Unknown Vary widely by mgt. unit Vary widely by mgt. unit
Arizona Very Good 1,500–2,000 243 5% 3/20–7/31 (bow only) 8/21–10/1 (bow only)
Arkansas Very Good 5,000 Approx. 365 Unknown None 9/26–11/29
California Good 34,000 1,078 5% None 8/15–9/6 (bow only)
Colorado Very Good 18,000 1,100 7.5% None 9/2–9/30
Georgia Excellent 800 124 Unknown None See Remarks
Idaho Good 20–25,000 2,500 (2012) Unknown Vary widely by mgt. unit Vary widely by mgt. unit
Kentucky Very Good 500 11 (2012) 1% None See Remarks
Maine Excellent 31,000 2,845 33% None 8/31–10/31
Maryland Excellent 1,000 69 7% None 10/26–10/29
Massachusetts Very Good 4,000–4,500 147 (2012) 2% None 9/8–9/26; 11/2–11/21
Michigan Very Good 11,000 1,360 20% None Varies by region
Minnesota Very Good 12–15,000 1,600 30% None 9/1–10/17
Montana Very Good 13,000 1,500 Unknown* 4/15–6/15* 9/6– 9/13 (bow only)
New Hampshire Excellent 5,700 784 6% None 9/1–11/24
New Jersey Excellent 2,200 253 4% None 12/7–12/12
New Mexico Very Good 7–8,000 451 11% None 9/1–9/24 (Bow only)
New York Very Good 5–7,000 1,258 (2012) Unknown None Not Reported
Nevada Very Good 400–700 17 30% None 9/15–12/31
North Carolina Excellent 17–20,000 2,991 Unknown None Varies east/west sides of state
Oklahoma Good Unknown 28 (2012) 15% None 10/1–10/19
Oregon Good 20–30,000 1,500 6% 4/1–5/31 8/1–11/30 (east) or 12/31 (west)
Pennsylvania Very Good 18,000 3,510 2% None 11/17–11/21 (bow only)
South Carolina Good 700–900 63 Unknown None 10/17–10/30
Tennessee Very Good 4–5,000 520 Unknown None See Remarks
Utah Excellent Unknown 234 42% Depends on unit Unknown
Vermont Excellent 6,000 556 Unknown None 9/1–11/13; 11/14–11/22
Virginia Excellent 17,000 2,144 11% None 10/4–11/14 (bow, statewide)
Washington Very Good 25–30,000 1,633 (2012) 18% Sp 7% Fall April-May August-November
West Virginia Excellent 10–12,000 2,685 10% None 10/3–11/21, 12/7–12/31
Wisconsin Excellent 22,000 4,279 54% None 9/9–10/13
Wyoming Very Good Unknown 393 11% 4/15–4/30 (bow only) 8/15–8/31 (bow only)
Canada
Alberta (black) Very Good 40,000 3,033 93% April-June; varies by unit Sept-Nov; varies by unit
British Col. (grizzly) Very Good 13–15,000 181 Unknown April-June; varies by region Aug-Nov; varies by region
British Col. (black) Excellent 120–160,000 2,814 Unknown April-June Aug-Nov; varies by region
Manitoba Good 31,000 1,786 (2012) See Remarks April-June August-October
New Brunswick Excellent 17,500 1,710 (2012) 68% NR/15% R April-June September (bow only)
Newfoundland/Labrador Very Good 6–10,000 Not Reported Not Reported May-June September-November
NW Territories (grizzly) Good 3,500 Not Reported Unknown April-May July-October
NW Territories (black) Good 10,000 Not Reported Unknown Not Reported Not Reported
Novia Scotia Excellent 8–10,000 885 (2012) 15% None September-December
Ontario Excellent 85–105,000 4,724 See Remarks None Varies
Quebec Very Good 70,000 5,040 (2012) 30% May-June Not Reported
Saskatchewan Very Good Unknown, high 2,100 (2012) Unknown April-June August-October
Yukon (grizzly) Good 6,500 70 (2012)* Unknown April-June August-November
Yukon (black) Good 10,000 74 (2012)* Unknown April-June August-November
50 >BOWHUNTER APRIL/MAY 2015
BEAR FORECAST 2015