The bear season, like the antlerlessdeer season, will be open to hunters on private lands only. A few were upset, but most thought it was a great addition and a fresh, unique hunting opportunity that would be welcomed by sportsmen. Countless wild berry patches attract bear from miles around. Two bears may be taken with a bow during the bear archery season or one each in the archery and firearms seasons combined, provided at least one bear must be taken in boone, fayette, kanawha, logan, mcdowell, mingo, nicholas, raleigh or wyoming counties. Virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. Once a harvest is made, that permit is no longer valid. The age of your harvested bear will be available online 9 to 10 months after the hunting season ends at. If you have seen a bear, you can report it to the wildlife division by using the link to the left. Wdtv an early black bear gun season with or without hunting dogs is coming to multiple counties starting august 31. For your safety never go bear hunting alone without making sure someone knows where youre hunting and when youll be return.
Bear hunting not permitted in cranberry closed area. See the hunting digest for more information or the departments web site at. Early black bear hunting season opening in west virginia. Apr 30, 2018 virginia is black bear country including fairfax county. Sep 30, 2010 for this fall, the bear archery season began on oct. A million little things has a good shot at a third season. Below is a listing of bear reports received over the past year. Tennessee black bear hunting regulations refer to the tennessee hunting and trapping guide for more information.
Record number of black bears hunted last season in virginia. Blaze color is required in areas with an open deer firearms season during this weekend. Bear hunting season in western north carolina opens oct. Bear hunting firearms seasons virginia hunting seasons. Dog training regulations the same licenses required for bear hunting are required for the training of dogs on bear. Jun 07, 2015 virginia bear hunting is not as popular as virginia deer hunting but as the black bear population increases in virginia more and more virginia hunters will keep a closer eye on virginia bear. Below are the seasons and bag limits for most hunting and trapping seasons for from july 1, 2019 through june 30, 2020. Bears may be harvested using any lawful weapon within the incorporated limits of any city or town that allows bear hunting from october 5 to january 4. Muzzleloading firearms must be single shot, capable of firing only a single bullet or saboted bullet. Bear hunting with plott hounds in west virginia duration. If hunting in an area with no open deer firearms season this weekend, blaze color is strongly recommended. It shall be lawful to chase black bear with dogs, without capturing or taking, from august 1 through the last saturday.
The wisconsin black bear population is thriving and expanding its occupied range in the state. New hunting regulations include early bear season in southern. Double spur outfitters hunts in northwest virginia, close to west virginia and maryland. Youll need a special bear tag or bear permit in order to legal hunt a bear. Hopefully they will come back in force so we can have bear season for future generations. During the virginia muzzleloader hunting season, only muzzleloading firearms. Cubs or female bears with cubs at the side may not be taken at any time.
Double spur outfitters is conveniently located 2 hours west of washington, dc, and 1 12 hours from dulles international airport. The black bear harvest of 2019 is the third highest bear kill ever recorded. Ap virginia hunters killed a record number of american black bears during the 20192020 hunting season, according to. Wildlife resources commission asks for hunter participation in the bear cooperator program as bear hunting. Timing is critical when setting bear hunting seasons, and the concurrent buck gun, bear season will occur when the maximum number of hunters are in the woods. Deer and bear winter 2020 mountaineer heritage see page 34. New hunting regulations include early bear season in southern w. West virginia hunters harvest 3,099 black bears in 2019. Awaking from their slumber black bears and cubs emerge from their winter dens from march through may in virginia.
Hunters who take part in west virginia s earliest bear season can expect the woods to still be green. Allowed see general hunting information for details. A greene county man was honored last month by the state for tagging the largest bear in virginia during the 2018 hunting season. Virginia hunting season began last weekend with youth day and monday wednesday was the start of early bear season in greene, albemarle and madison counties. Bear hunting double spur outfitters star tannery, va. Generally, archery season runs from early october through midnovember. The use of dogs while bow hunting for black bear is illegal during the bear archery season.
Harvest records show more bear are taken in this area compared to any other area of virginia most years. Be bear aware its the season for bear sightings fairfax. This season will not supersede local ordinances with respect to hunting or use of weapon. We do offer you the opportunity to guarantee your favorite campsite or cabin by paying our applicable locking fee. In most cases these wildlife encounters are events that visitors enjoy and that have. From interstate 81 take exit 220 onto va262 toward staunton. Virginia muzzleloader hunting season knight rifles. Not saying they were not there but did not see them. Watch the video of a bear at the virginia tech black bear research center test a. A an additional early black bear hunting season may lure northern hunters into west virginias southernmost counties, said. Bears must weigh at least 100 pounds live or minimum 75 pounds field dressed. Bear harvest age information 20182019 bear season age data available.
Bears will not eat, drink, urinate or defecate while denning. Bears are easily aroused and may be active during warm winter days. However, virginia experienced mild fall and winter weather during the 201920 season, which may have contributed to increased bear movements, later denning, and favorable hunting opportunities later in the season. Virginia bear hunting is not as popular as virginia deer hunting but as the black bear population increases in virginia more and more virginia hunters will keep a closer eye on virginia bear. Hunter effort and success rates of hunting bears with. Wvs newest bear season will coincide with october antlerless. Known forgreat opportunities for deer and black bear hunting. One of the many highlights of visiting a national park is the opportunity to observe and photograph wildlife.
Check with local hunting laws to get your regulations. Bear gun season a bow may be substituted for a firearm during bear firearms seasons. You can hunt bear in virginia by archery or firearms, and the seasons differ around the state. They emerge from their dens from midmarch to early may. Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. The cancel bear the cancel bear is a bear who tracks and devours lowrated tv shows. Like archery season, muzzleloader deer season is divided into early november and late december through early january with different periods in different areas. The season bag limit is two bears, but only one bear per permit and per segment. When the season opens, bear, deer, and turkey hunters from virginia and from states all over the country flock to this area to hunt. Firearms opening dates and season lengths vary depending on county. Hunters are reminded to purchase their bear damage stamp as. Virginia continues to provide diverse opportunities for a successful bear hunt.
Virginia 20192020 black bear harvest virginia dgif. Virginia hunters take advantage of new early bear season many hunters were stunned when virginias department of game and inland fisheries created a new earlyfirearms bear season in 2017. Hunting bears with hounds is traditional for virginia hunters who hunt exclusively. The survey asked about opinions on the black bear population, management of nuisance black bears, hunting black bears, and more. Jun 02, 2016 1st of all i agree with shutting down the season because they were being hunted to extinction. On cavalier wma dogs may only be used during the bear hound training season from august 17 through 31.
Wvdnr hunting regulations bear archery and firearms seasons. Find virginia hunting seasons, information on deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game and special hunt dates. Bear bag limit, weight limits, and all other take restrictions apply. When hunting during the archery or muzzleloading bear seasons, except in certain counties during the youthapprentice bear hunting weekend see bear hunting regulations. In 2010, 8,910 harvest permits were available and hunters responded by harvesting more than 5,000 bears, the highest bear harvest documented in wisconsin history. A cub is defined as any bear weighing seventyfive 75 pounds or less. When looking at all mast species combined, mast production in 2019 was 12% above mast production in 2018 and 6% above the longaterm average, said colin carpenter, dnr black bear project leader. We are located at 3 maple avenue east, vienna, va 22180. The next membership meeting of the virginia bear hunters association will be held on sunday, january 19, 2020 at 2. If a bear is taken on this weekend, the youth or apprentice hunter may not take another bear in any season. The west virginia black bear harvest has exceeded 3,000 in four of the last five years. The 16day season, open in four counties in the states southwestern region, will begin. Theres only one bear species in virginia, the american black bear, and hunters reported 3,540 kills during the states 20192020 season. Depending on weather and food conditions, black bears enter their winter dens between october and january.
Everything you need to plan your west virginia hunting trips for 2020. Feeding bears is illegal in virginia wildlife managers dont recommend feeding wildlife due to concerns surrounding disease transmission and habituation of wildlife to human foods. Hunters can initially purchase two permits for two different zones. However, they did not close bear hunting seasons in idaho and michigan. In wmds where no anydeer permits are issued, it is bucks only for youth hunters on youth deer day and also bucks only for archers during the archery season on deer.
Specific campsites or cabins may be requested, but are not guaranteed. Wildlife commission asks for hunter cooperation as bear season opens oct. Counties that will be open for bear hunting during the buck gun season are above their management objective and need additional bears harvested to achieve their goal, carpenter said. All or parts of 16 counties will be open to bear gun hunting sept. Everything you need to plan your virginia hunting trips for 2020. In the cities of chesapeake, suffolk, and virginia beach. One bear was harvested in preston county during the states first mountaineer heritage season, which ran jan. Black bear can only be taken during the designated hunting season 29. Virginia black bear harvest by county virginia dgif. It is unlawful to hunt wildlife, except foxes, crows and coyotes, on sundays. Virginia residents opinions on black bears and black bear management. Bear hunting laws bear hunting news, information, guide.