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Early bear seasons underway in W.Va.

ELKINS, W.Va. — The second of the three early bear hunting seasons in West Virginia is underway. The Natural Resources Commission set the three early seasons on the recommendation of biologists with the Division of Natural Resources to help keep bear numbers in check.

“We actually have three early seasons in three different areas,” said Colin Carpenter, Bear Project Leader of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. “The idea is to give hunters additional opportunities to harvest female bears while they’re out and available before they go to the den.”

Ironically, it was closing of early seasons in the 1980’s and 1990’s which led to the rebound of black bear numbers in West Virginia. Researchers learned in the 1980’s the bred sows were always the first to go into hibernation. By delaying the hunting season until December, wildlife managers could insure the pregnant females would be spared from hunters who would then be chasing males or females which were not bred. As with any game population, the management is handled through the female side so with numbers becoming higher than the public is able to tolerate in some locations, managers have reversed things.

“Putting that season in December did a very good job of protecting the females and allowing the population to grow,” said Carpenter. “But we are trying to reduce bear populations in a number of our counties or at least stabilize it, so we just reversed it.”

Hunters have responded, particularly in the southern coalfields where the agency has seen an increase in bear hunting activity and in success. The original early season was conducted in Fayette, Boone, Raleigh and Kanawha Counties several years ago and proved successful.

“We have essentially stabilized the population at the 2002 level since we implemented those seasons,” Carpenter explained. “We have to maintain the harvest as we do or we get more and more bears.”

The bulk of hunters participating in the early seasons are houndsmen, hunters who run the bears with dogs. The three separate seasons are deliberately staggered to give those who run dogs a chance to participate in all of the various seasons in all parts of West Virginia if they wish. Carpenter said the state however, has also seen a surge in traditional hunters or “stump hunters” as they are often called, who have decided to give bear hunting a try. It turns out September is the perfect time to find them.

“Bears are extremely active this time of year and are foraging 24 hours a day in some cases,” he explained. “They’re trying to pack on the pounds knowing they’re going to den soon. The berry crop was sort of lean over summer so now that the hard mast is falling, that’s what they’re after.”

The first early bear season in Wyoming, Mingo, Logan, and McDowell County was September 1-7. The season is open September 17-23 in select counties of central W.Va. and the mountain counties. The early season will be October 1-7 in Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, and Raleigh Counties. Check the DNR’s regulations for your hunting area.





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