REGIONAL— Bear hunters have recorded one of their best seasons in decades this year as bears, hungry from limited natural foods, have found hunters’ baits irresistible in many cases. Bear hunters typically use baits to lure bears into view of their stands.
Hunters had registered 2,600 bears through the first nine days of the season. “That’s a big jump from last year,” said Tower area DNR wildlife manager Jessica Holmes. “It’s mostly explained by the poor food conditions reported.”
Last year at the same time, hunters had registered just 1,082 bears, although unusually warm conditions last year likely contributed to the slow start. Temperatures were more seasonable for the first of the season this year, although summer-like heat returned for the second week of the season.
Hunters found success early on this year, registering nearly 1,200 bears on the first day of the season. “The most we’ve seen in a single day going back 20 years was 798 in 2007,” said Holmes.
Typically, about 60-70 percent of the harvest is reported in the first week of the season. “At this point it may be too early to predict total harvest, but we’re likely going to end up near 3,500 bears on the season,” said Holmes.
Registrations by bear management units in northeastern Minnesota include:
• BMU 22 – 1 bear
• BMU 24 – 45 bears
• BMU 25 – 177 bears
• BMU 31 – 201 bears.
At the same point last year, hunters had registered 0, 20, 146, and 107 bears in those same management units respectively.
The bear season continues through Sunday, Oct. 13.