2007 black bear season harvest
MADISON -- Preliminary figures indicate hunters harvested more than 2,570 black bears in Wisconsin during the 2007 bear hunting season. This figure is expected to increase slightly in the next month as remaining registration data is entered and is very close to the 2,650 harvest goal for the 2007 season.
Bayfield, Price, and Sawyer counties led the state, as they did in 2006, with 240, 227, and 189 bears registered respectively. The preliminary harvest by Bear Management Zone is Zone A: 978, Subzone A1: 610, Zone B: 468, Zone C: 517, and unknown zone: 4.
Hunters submitted 34,975 applications for 4,405 Class A Bear Harvest permits. A total of 80,245 hunters applied for either a harvest permit or a preference point. Hunters who apply for but do not receive a Class A harvest permit will receive a preference point for the next year’s drawing. Depending on the zone applied for, it currently takes five to nine preference points in order to draw a harvest permit.
2008 Season Applications
The deadline for 2008 Black Bear hunting season applications is Dec. 10, 2007. Hunters can apply over the Internet through the Online Licensing Center; at DNR service centers during their regular business hours (check service center link for hours of operation, which vary by service center; service centers are closed Saturdays); at automated license issuance system sales locations; or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).
The 2008 bear hunting season will run Sept. 3 through Oct. 7. Hunters are reminded that for the 2008 bear season, Subzone A1 has been renamed to Zone D. With this change, Zone A permit holders will no longer be able to cross over into Subzone A1, now Zone D.
The opening week of Wisconsin’s bear hunting season alternates between those hunting bear over bait and those hunting with trailing hounds. Hunting over bait will go first in 2008 in all management zones. Hunters using trailing hounds will have the first week of the season again in 2009.
2008 bear harvest applications can be purchased over the Internet through the DNR Web site, at any DNR Service Center, at automated license issuance system sales locations, or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).
Information on bear hunting, hunting seasons, and links to online application information can be accessed at bear hunting page of the DNR Web site or at any DNR Service Center or license vendor.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: contact Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023 or Linda Olver (608) 261-7588
