Sunday, Nov. 17 Sunday, Nov. 24 Sunday, Dec. 1
STATEWIDE
Oct. 19-Nov. 9
WMUS 2B, 5C & 5D
Sept. 21-Nov. 29
WMU 5B
Oct. 5-Nov. 22
Oct. 24-26
Junior & Senior license holders, Mentored permit holders, active-duty military and certain disabled persons’ permit holders. Arms and ammunition permitted during the regular firearms bear season can be used.
Nov. 23-26
WMUS 2B, 5B, 5C & 5D
Nov. 30-Dec. 14
WMUS 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E & 5A
Nov. 30-Dec. 7
1) Manually operated centerfire rifles, handguns and shotguns with all-lead bullet or ball, or a bullet designed to expand on impact (buckshot is illegal); 2) semiautomatic centerfire shotguns that propel single-projectile ammunition; 3) muzzleloading long guns of any type, .44 caliber or larger, or a muzzleloading handgun .50 caliber or larger, or an encapsulated propellant charge that loads from the breech, with the bullet loaded from the muzzle; and 4) long, recurve or compound bows (draw weights at least 35 pounds), or crossbows with weight minimum of 125 pounds. A broadhead is a fixed or mechanical tip affixed to the fore end of an arrow or bolt having sharpened cutting edges consisting of metal or naturally occurring stone. The broadhead must have an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 of an inch, and the length may not exceed 3.25 inches.
A successful bear hunter must complete all information on the tag and attach it to the bear’s ear immediately after harvest, and before the carcass is moved. In addition, within 24 hours, each hunter who harvests a bear must have it checked by the Game Commission. Bear check stations, which are listed on the next page, are open on the first two days of the regular firearms bear season, and on select days of the extended seasons. Hunters harvesting bears during the statewide archery, muzzleloader or special firearms bear seasons, any early season in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C & 5D, or on any date check stations aren’t open should contact the Centralized Dispatch Center at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or 1-833-PGC-WILD for instructions to have their bears checked. Bears should be field-dressed before being brought to a check station, as Game Commission personnel do not need to examine reproductive tracts. It’s also acceptable to bring only the tagged head and hide to the check station. Hunters should bring their hunting license and bear license. Once you have used your tag, it is unlawful to possess it in the field. If you purchase a bear license online, you cannot hunt for bear until the physical license, with a harvest tag, is delivered to you.
A general hunting license or Mentored permit is required to hunt in any season. Bear hunters ages 7 and older must have a bear license in addition to a general license or Mentored permit. A bear license allows hunters to participate in the bear archery and bear muzzleloader seasons without needing an archery or muzzleloader license for these two particular seasons. Bear licenses are available to purchase from the time general hunting licenses go on sale through the Dec. 14 close of the last extended seasons.
Bear hunters during firearms seasons, including the muzzleloader season, must wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, chest and back combined, visible from 360 degrees. Camouflage fluorescent orange will satisfy this regulation if the total orange content is at least 250 square inches. No fluorescent orange is required for hunting during the archery season.
It is unlawful to:
Bear Feeding Ban
It is unlawful to “intentionally lay or place food, fruit, hay, grain, chemicals, salt or other minerals that may cause bears to congregate or habituate in an area.” In addition, if nuisance bears are being attracted to an area by any other wildlife feeding, game wardens can issue written notice to temporarily halt the activity.
