Healthier harvest expected as Wisconsin bear season begins

Madison, WI, United States (4E Sports) – Wisconsin bear hunters are expected to see a healthier harvest this year when hunting season officially begins Wednesday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

DNR wildlife biologist Jeremy Holtz said bears had plenty of food this spring with the early growing season and milder temperatures, resulting in a rapid growth in their population.

The DNR has issued 9,015 permits for bear hunting and hunters without dogs can start their chase immediately and will have the first season to themselves, according to wildlife biologist Jeremy Holtz.

Holtz added that hunters who utilize dogs in catching bears can start their chase next week. The hunting season runs through Oct. 9.

“The main difference is that the folks that are hunting without the aid of dogs have to basically rely on seeing the animal. So it’s more like, maybe hunting deer where they sit in a location and watch for a bear to come,” Holtz said.

Holtz also reminded hunters to adhere with hunting laws, including the submission of a tooth and rib sample to aid wildlife managers in estimating the age of harvested bears and in estimating the size of the state’s bear population.

“It’s mandatory that they provide this tooth and this rib. It’s the law. Sometimes we have some hunters that don’t want to contribute that at the station and they put up a fight and they should realize that it’s like any other law. If they choose to violate it they could well be contacted by a warden afterwards,” Holtz added.

The provision gives DNR valuable information about the bears roaming the state’s harvest regions and also helps them set tag numbers for next year’s hunt.

Last year, the DNR issued 9,005 permits, resulting in the harvest of 4,257 bears, the second highest harvest ever recorded in the state, following the record kill of 5,133 bears in 2010.

---

---