Second Consecutive Record Bear Harvest Reported in Tennessee

MORRISTOWN, Tenn.  --- A new record for black bear harvest has been established for 2009, according to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reports.

 

Through the various seasons this year, the 2009 harvest of 566 surpassed the previous record of 446 set just last year during 2008.

 

The harvest in each county by season is as follows:

 

Sept. 26-Oct. 30 archery-only: Blount (4), Carter (39), Cocke (17), Greene (11), Johnson (28), Monroe (4), Sevier (3), Sullivan (18), Unicoi (13), Washington (10).

Sept. 28-Oct. 4 Gun/Muzzleloader/Archery (G/M/A): Blount (27), Cocke (9), Sevier (37).

Oct. 5-6 G/M/A: Monroe (26), Polk (15).

Oct. 17-18 G/M/A: Monroe (16), Polk (7).

Nov. 2-5 G/M/A: Blount (16), Carter (20), Cocke (24), Greene (9), Johnson (9), Monroe (22), Polk (15), Sevier (15), Sullivan (9), Unicoi (10), Washington (4).

Nov. 26-29 G/M/A: Blount (2), Carter (1), Cocke (3), Greene (2), Johnson (2), Monroe (3), Unicoi (2), Washington (1).

Dec. 3-16 G/M/A: Blount (6), Carter (11), Cocke (15), Greene (14), Johnson (4), Monroe (14), Polk (17), Sevier (9), Sullivan (1), Unicoi (16), Washington (3).

 

Tennessee’s black bear population has been steadily increasing over the past 40 years due to several management practices put in place by TWRA. These practices include: establishment of a series of bear reserves throughout the bear habitat, protection of females and cubs, and setting the majority of the bear hunting season later in the year when most females have gone to the den.

 

Harvest totals have varied over the past 60 years from less than 10 animals to the record of 566 set this year. The annual harvest has been more than 300 bears the past five consecutive years.

---TWRA---