Record TN bear harvest

[Emily]

http://www.greenevillesun.com/story/307212

December 19, 2009



Black Bear: New Harvest Record Again

Published: 8:25 AM, 12/19/2009 Last updated: 8:25 AM, 12/19/2009


Source: The Greeneville Sun

When biologists from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) told me a couple years back the black bear population in east Tennessee was larger and healthier than it had been in a century, they were far from kidding. That news has been nothing but good for the hunters that roam the area mountains in pursuit of them.

Once again, Tennessee hunters have set a new record for black bear harvest during 2009, according to the TWRA. The Agency said the 2009 harvest of 566 eclipsed the 2008 record harvest of 446. I think eclipsed is a little subtle - try crushed.

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 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. 25 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 5 consecutive years. Congratulations to both the Agency and the bear guys.