New Hampshire Whitetail     |    
                                                  
SEASON' S OUTLOOK / BLACK BEAR


Current estimates place New Hampshire?s black bear population between 4,500 and 5,000 animals. Age analysis of harvested bears suggests that bear population growth has leveled off.

In 2001, hunters harvested a record 527 bears. Still-hunters accounted for 295 bears, bait hunters took 169 and hound hunters tallied 63 bears. The 2001 harvest distribution was 134 bears in the North Region, 195 in the White Mountains Region, 156 in the Central Region, 31 in the Southwest-1 Region, 11 in the Southwest-2 Region and 0 in the Southeast Region. The 2001 pre-hunt population density estimates for the regions were 0.5 bears per square mile in the North, 0.9 in the White Mountains, 0.5 in the Central region, 0.4 in the Southwest-1, 0.3 in the Southwest-2 and less than 0.1 in the Southeast Region.

Three female bears dressed out at over 270 pounds during 2001, while two males dressed out over 485 pounds. One of these males tied the state record with a dressed weight of 494 pounds.

In 2001, bears appear to have entered dens early. They also exited dens early in response to sparse snow and mild March weather. Bear hunters should focus their attention on the White Mountains Region,
the Central Region, and the Northern Region to maximize their 2002 bear hunting success.

Pay careful attention to fall food production to boost the odds in your favor. During good acorn and beechnut years, hunt oak and beech stands. If the oaks and beech trees have a poor production year, focus on alternative foods such as abandoned apple orchards, cherry stands and cornfield edges. Bears need to gain substantial weight before denning. Thus, you?ll find bears where you find abundant fall foods.

Be aware of the dramatic impact fall mast production can have on bear vulnerability to hunting. In years of poor food production, bears search extensively for alternate foods. This translates into hunters seeing and taking more bears. During good mast years, bears are less inclined to travel, and thus hunter success declines.

Therefore, regardless of bear density, harvest can fluctuate dramatically in response to annual food production. The 2002 bear season promises to be a good one.