New Bear hunting Regulation

[HeviShot]

New this year is a requirement that hunters who are selected in the annual lottery purchase their licenses by Friday, July 29. The remaining licenses can be made available to other hunters.Applications for this year’s bear hunt, which runs from Thursday, Sept. 1, to Sunday, Oct. 16, will be accepted through Friday, May 6.

Applications also are available at the DNR License Center in St. Paul or by phone at 888-665-4236.

A total of 7,050 licenses are available in 11 permit areas. Although almost 2,500 fewer bear licenses are available this year over last year’s total of 9,500, the drop isn’t as dramatic as it appears, said Dan Stark, DNR wildlife specialist.

Until this year, DNR adjusted the number of licenses available upward because about 30 percent of successful applicants did not purchase a license. By implementing the purchasing deadline and allowing unclaimed licenses to be sold, the number of licenses is expected to better reflect the actual number of bear hunters.

“Historically, unclaimed licenses went unused because only successful lottery applicants could buy them,” Stark said.

In 2010, 7,086 hunters actually purchased a license. Those hunters were chosen from a pool of 18,647 applicants for the available 9,500 permit area licenses. Hunters harvested a total of 2,699 bears.

Following the July 29 deadline, anyone who applied for a license but was not selected may purchase any remaining licenses starting at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 3. If licenses still remain, any hunters who did not participate in the lottery may purchase a license starting at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Bear licenses cost $38 for residents and $200 for nonresidents. The bag limit is two bears in the no-quota area and one bear in all quota permit areas.

Stark said bear harvest goals remain essentially unchanged from the 2010 season, with the exception of permit area 24. In this area, hunter numbers will be reduced to allow the black bear population to increase.

[HeviShot]

I like the idea that "people" who get chosen for a permit and do not use it will no longer go to waste. Although, 2,500 fewer permits, WOW. It will be interesting to see how many permits will be available to purchase in August.

[Archerysniper]

+1 on that Hevishot, I apply every year and get drawn probably every 3rd and it allways angers me to see those lic not get purchased when I know alot of guys would be buying the surplus or unclaimed tags.

[lichen fox]

I agree...this is the best new rule since they made all hunters purchase a license prior to setting any baits...

[AndersonOutdoors]

This is Really good for bear hunters,although their will be less issued licenses,this will help the years to come when they will issue more when the bear population is up.

[Boar]

cool all for it. now if we can get barrels for bait on private land passed.

[superbee]

Boar - shoot me an email, I acquired allot more area close to my home base and it might work better for you than the area far away. I can give you more details in an email.

[Random guy]

This law will make for a nice change in chances to hunt for those that desire to hunt and actaully do.

[x1957x]

Boar. 1957 here. What the heck you been doing? Long winter huh?

[Boar]

hey bud wats up yea to long, weired just went thru all my bear bait.

[HooknHorns]

Looking for fresh donuts, were ya.

[wingedone]

another thought - there are those that apply for the permit just to reduce the chances of a true hunter getting drawn. since those 'bear huggers' now will have to purchase the license in order to have the same effect (which I doubt they will) - it should increase the numbers of the true hunters...correct?

[Boar]

Ha, I always have fresh doughnuts, just checking the expiration date to see if i missed any for myself.......yea looking for doughnuts. Boar