Black Bear Show

09/09/2026

Getting harder to draw a tag everywhere.

MORE THAN 72,500 PEOPLE WANTED A BEAR TAG. ONLY 6,278 GOT ONE.

Michigan’s first 2026 bear-hunting period opens September 9, and the demand for a chance at a black bear is staggering. The Michigan DNR received 72,580 applications, including 45,271 people who applied for a preference point only. Just 6,278 licenses were available, meaning there were roughly 12 applicants for every tag.

Michigan is estimated to have about 12,450 black bears, with the vast majority in the Upper Peninsula. And once hunters actually get their opportunity, the hunt has a pretty respectable success rate. Last year, hunters registered about 1,957 bears, putting the harvest rate at roughly 31% of available licenses. Michigan has also produced some serious trophy bears. The current Boone & Crockett state record was killed by Donald R. Corrigan in Newaygo County in 2009, with a skull measuring 22 11/16 inches.

So in Michigan, the hardest part of bear hunting may not be killing a bear. It’s getting the opportunity to hunt one in the first place.

Aaron B. Futrell, Author|Owner, Delong Lures

09/07/2026

If you are not a subscriber to Bernie's YouTube channel, you really should be. The bear hunting vlogs ar addictive!

Bear baiting Minnesota is about to begin. Bear Hunting in Minnesota...

08/13/2026

Looks like some people in Vermont need to be educated about baiting bears.

State estimates black bear population thousands over objective and still limits ways to effectively hunt them

Vermont has just released its updated black bear population estimate using 2025 data, and the numbers are hard to ignore. The state estimates there were between 7,500 and 8,900 black bears on the landscape last year. Vermont’s population objective is just 3,500 to 5,500 bears, meaning even the low end of the latest estimate is 2,000 bears above the top of the state’s objective. It is also the fifth consecutive year the estimated population has been above that range.

That comes as Vermont is already debating how to increase bear harvest. Hunters petitioned the Fish & Wildlife Board to legalize bear baiting, with one proposal also seeking to extend the season and allow hunters to take two bears instead of one. But on May 20, the board voted 11–1 to reject the baiting proposals. Vermont currently allows hunters to pursue bears with fi****ms, archery equipment and hounds, but baiting remains illegal.

The interesting part is that neighboring Maine and New Hampshire both allow bear baiting, while Vermont is sitting on a bear population that its own model says is thousands above its management objective. Vermont is moving toward a longer season and two tags, but the question remains: if the state wants to manage a growing bear population, should hunters have every effective legal tool available to do it?

Aaron B. Futrell, Author|Owner, Delong Lures

08/12/2026

Jesse Koskiniemi poses with your's truly and his Minnesota Record Black Bear.
The skull measured 22-10/16 inches. Whopper!

08/10/2026

Minnesota bears are looking pretty thin right now! What are you seeing for natural foods?

08/06/2026

Louisiana opens their black Bear Hunting application period with about twice as many tags as were available last year. Black Bear Hunting is expanding across North America. It’s an exciting time to be a Bear Hunter.

Learn about Louisiana's black bear hunting lottery, application process, permit types, and season.

08/06/2026

Gotta love this guy!

08/05/2026

The electronic licensing system in Minnesota has changed. Getting a surplus tag is much different this year. Study the link at the bottom of this before you go.

The big things would be login early and make sure you are in the system, get ready when everyone shifts to the waiting room at 11:45. Anyone that arrives after noon gets added sequentially. At noon, the people with the lowest numbers, assigned by the system will be let in (~1,300) to buy. It’s first come, first serve and it’s a race to buy the permit. It’s not yours until it’s paid for and the transaction finishes. If after 20 mins, there are still tags available, the initial group gets kicked out, then the next wave gets a shot.

The big difference here is that it’s fair for all channels. People who wait at the gas station for hours ahead of time or have a ‘buddy’ that holds their license have an equal chance as all other users. Some people at agents won’t be in the first wave. This should be more fair for all and give everyone a fair shake.

Questions and answers about the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' new electronic licensing system (ELS), which is coming in 2025.

08/03/2026