Fall Bear Hunting Deadline

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Deadline to apply for Minnesota bear hunting license is May 1

Applications for this fall’s black bear hunt are due by May 1. They are available at any of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) 1,650 license agents or online.

Hunters interested in the Sept. 1 - Oct. 18 hunt can apply for one of 10,000 available licenses spread across 11 permit areas. Hunters picked in the lottery must pay $38 for a resident license and $200 for a nonresident license. Hunters who are interested in obtaining only a preference point should apply for Area 99. By doing so, they will not be considered for a permit but will accrue a preference point instead.

In 2008, 17,362 applicants applied for 11,850 permits. Hunters harvested a total of 2,135 bears.

“Issuing fewer permits this year reflects the DNR’s interest in moderately increasing the black bear population,” said Dan Stark, a DNR wildlife specialist.

A number of factors such as lower harvest success and a decline in nuisance complaints suggest a decline in the bear populations. Additionally, tooth age data is revealing a younger population, which may also suggest a decline.

Bear licenses for the no-quota area, which is the area outside of the 11 permit areas, can be purchased directly at any license agent beginning July 1. No previous application is necessary to buy a no-quota area license. The bag limit remains at two bears in the no-quota area and one bear in all quota permit areas.

Additional information is available online.