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Minnesota bear hunters harvested 3,582 black bears during the 1999 season. Although the 1999 harvest was the third highest ever (following nearly 5,000 bears in 1995 and 4,110 in 1998), it was 28 percent below the harvest goal of 5,000. The harvests in all individual Bear Management Units were below goal, despite a record 20,840 bear hunting permits offered in the 11 quota areas across northern Minnesota, and an additional unlimited number of permits in areas outside the quota areas.
Hunting success was only 22 percent this year. Yearly hunting success rates average about 30 percent, but vary between 15 and 42 percent depending on availability of natural foods. Poor hunting success, especially in western Minnesota, was due to an abundance of acorns, a preferred food for bears. Many hunters noted that bears stopped visiting their baits just about the first of September, the first day of the season. Besides the abundance of acorns in many areas, weather conditions on the opening weekend also played a part in the poor hunting success rate.
The low harvest will enable the bear population to grow more rapidly than desired, according to the DNR. The prehunt population was estimated at 27,000. The population is growing at 6 percent to 7 percent per year. To increase future bear harvests, the DNR is considering opening the 2000 bear season one week earlier than the traditional Sept. 1 opener. Additional information will be announced in January.
Applications for the 2000 bear hunting season should be available in early April. The application deadline for permits will be May 5, 2000.
Uploaded: 12/22/1999
Uploaded: 12/22/1999