Hunters killed a record number of 1,183 bears in 2020, marking a new state record. To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left. OUR ENVIRONMENT NEEDS MORE LOCAL REPORTING. Fines Creek 21-year-old bags record black bear. This helps prevent property damage and protects our bears by preventing them from becoming nuisance animals that are habituated to human-related foods. All ages and all legal methods of angling are represented. Im not sure honestly, let me know in the comments if you do. Use the 'Report' link on After one unofficial weight of 705 pounds, they headed to a state-certified scale at Herring Brothers Meats in Guildford. New Hampshire's black bear population is at a record level, according to the state Fish and Game Department. A regular-sized bear is 150-200 pounds and a few years old, he said. Human populations are expanding into bear territories causing more and more bear and human interactions. While Henrys dogs had treed one bear, Henry and Teague walked the trail of the larger bear, shown through its distinctly large tracks. The research is one of the first studies to show how black bears provide a buffer to allow other, DAY TWO PRIZE Caleb Henry, a 21-year-old from Fines Creek, shot this record black bear on Oct. 18, the second day into hunting season. Just ask Robert Christian. Boone & Crockett photo. The official weight of the bear was 699 pounds. The last two world record black bears were taken in eastern North Carolina, with the current record tipping the scales at an incredible 880 pounds. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER. New Hampshire hunters set a record bear kill of 784 black bears as of November 24th with the season still open in parts of the state. The black bear is the smallest of the three species of bears inhabiting North America (black, brown/grizzly, and polar), has the widest distribution on the continent, and is the only bear living in the eastern United States. Don't miss a story! The 2022-23 bear harvest was approximately 25% lower than the harvest the previous year and 29% lower than the previous 5-year average during 2017-2021. The 2021 statewide bear hunter harvest represented the fourth highest harvest in New Hampshire history. New Jerseys black bear hunt has caused controversy in recent years, as Gov. 10.03.18. According to the Ohio Wildlife Center, the most likely areas to see Black Bears in Ohio today are in Northeast Ohio (Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas counties) and Southeast Ohio (Washington, Athens, Hocking, and Vinton counties). When Henry and Teague got the bear home, a local biologist came to weigh it, and the hunters were astonished: the bear came in at 695 pounds. They walk on the soles of their feet, just like humans. We got in front of his two dogs because they were on the big one, Henry said. The last official population estimate I could find was from 2011 and said there were an estimated 13,307 bears in the Montana. (Pope and Young Club). Keep it Clean. Wisconsin's top-scoring bear was found dead in Monroe County in 2010, and had a skull scoring 23 5/16 inches. Use bear spray (if you have any) if it approaches too close. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. According to ct.gov, in 2019 there were approximately 7,300 bear sightings in 150 of Connecticuts 169 towns. hair around the black bear's muzzle is short and generally brown in color. HUGE BEAR Fines Creek hunter Caleb Henry bagged this record black bear weighing in at 695 pounds on Oct. 18. And there it is. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. A black bear found in the vicinity was killed and a necropsy revealed human remains in its digestive tract. 700 Pounds, New Jersey. The . A great Roadside America stop for those who are heading to Lake . Henry and his friends hunt to their hearts content every black bear season, which begins in the western counties Oct. 17 and lasts through Nov. 19, 2022, and runs again from Dec. 12, 2022 Jan. 2, 2023. In 1982, the statewide population was estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 bears. She leads NHPR's Spanish language news initiative, Qu Hay de Nuevo, New Hampshire? Different states in the U.S. contain varying populations of Black Bears while some states, like the ones listed below, dont have breeding populations of Black Bears at all. The only Wisconsin bear larger than this one was a skull picked up by Wade Brockman in 2010 that was 2/16" bigger. In a phone interview with Bangor Daily News, Knox said He [Jim Webber] told me to be patient. In areas with greater human interaction, bears tend to be more active at night. Phil Murphy vowed to end the practice during his campaign and in 2018instituted a ban on hunting bears on state lands. Get the latest Offers, Outdoor News, Stories, and Reviews delivered to your inbox. But in the last 30 years that population has 10xd, with the latest estimates being at 20,000 or more in the state today. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In the rare case of an attack, you should fight back and never. However at the time of writing this, there is believed to be a breeding Black Bear population in 41 of the 50 U.S. states. Thanks to biologists closely monitoring the population and conservation efforts, there are more Black Bears living in Vermont today than there have been for over 200 years. Black Bears were thought to have been completely extirpated from Ohio in the 1850s, but have begun making a comeback in recent years. Included. Connecticut River Pittsburg 7/4/1975 Ken Reed, Jr. Connecticut River Hinsdale 6/2/2013 Kevin Martin NH Black Bears are primarily found in the northwestern mountains of Montana, but also in areas of Southern and Western Montana. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Black Bears were classified as game mammals in the state in 1948 and even though they are hunted by humans, their population continues to thrive due to restrictive regulations and laws. The number one predator of Black Bears are humans. They are adept swimmers and excellent hunters. JavaScript must be enabled for some features to display properly. Be Truthful. Don't Threaten. California's black bear population has increased over the past few decades. Keep bird feeders high off the ground and bring them in during bear season, from April to December. (2007) 5 Bull Moose Over 50 Inches NH State Record Rack for . Read Bear Management Options information from the Northeast Black Bear Technical Committee. The bears in Michigan are protected by law and the population is managed by The Department of Natural Resources, hunting is allowed with the proper license. While they are classified as carnivores, Black Bears are actually omnivorous and considered opportunistic eaters. "It was a poor year for natural bear foods, and we saw a surge in hunter numbers brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and perhaps a corresponding increase in the number of hunters spending more time in the outdoors hunting than in past years." Fishers in NH; . Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. JavaScript must be enabled for some features to display properly. Your real name will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more! Black bears have several color phases; most in the northeast are all black with a brown or tan muzzle. I'm very grateful that I get to be a part of all this. Idaho has a growing population of Black Bears with as many as 30,000 in the state and growing by 15% each year. The bear got across one of the old roads in front of my girlfriend and me, Henry recalled. In 2021, 40 orphaned black bear cubs were released back to their natural habitat in New Hampshire and Vermont from the Kilham Bear Center in Lyme, New Hampshire. HUGE BEAR Fines Creek hunter Caleb Henry bagged this record black bear weighing in at 695 pounds on Oct. 18. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. by Certified Wildlife Biologist, Eric P. Orff. When this police officer saw a mother bear leaving her sick cub behind, he quickly jumped into action. Typically, winter dens are 5 1/2 feet long and 2 feet high. What's the largemouth bass record in New Hampshire? Recent hunting bans are unhealthy for residents, bear populations, and are counter to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, Mowery said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Black Bears in West Virginia were once concentrated to the National Forests of Eastern West Virginia, such as Monongahela National Forest, but have since spread throughout the state and have a population of 8,000 or more. Then in the 70s, Florida Black Bears were almost eradicated from the state entirely. I just got that gun for Christmas, Henry said. The heaviest on record is a 289 1/4 lb. There were only about 1300 bears in the state in 2000, so it has more than tripled in the last 20 years or so. This makes Black Bear one of the premiere contests of the fall season. This black bear takes the spot previously held by Michael Musgrove of . Anyways this was just some food for thought tat there may have been a bigger deer shot earlier in the 20th century, but 289 ain't bad, is it? Hard mast -- beechnuts, acorns, and hickory nuts -- are the staple fall food source. During deep, winter sleep, their heart rate and breathing drops 50-60 percent, body temperature drops by 7-8 degrees, and they lose a quarter of their weight. Fitz, one of three black bear cubs saved after their Fitzwilliam den collapsed last month, naps at the Kilham Bear Center in Lyme shortly after being rescued. According to Maryland.gov we know that Black Bears are found mainly in Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Fredrick counties within Maine. Having grown in recent years, the Black Bear population in New Hampshire is estimated to be 6,100 currently. 7 nights stay. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. This year's harvest was similar (-3%) to the preceding 5-year average (922 bears) and 25% below last year's record harvest (1183 bears). As of 2022, the record largemouth bass caught in New Hampshire was a 10lb 8 oz fish caught by G. Bullpit in . For the first time in decades, The Old Farmer's Almanac is looking for a new editor, NSC-131 members say they can't find a NH defense lawyer for pending civil rights case, Cautiously optimistic: Maple syrup producers expect a good season this year, In Spokane, Washington, officials test a housing strategy rejected by NH lawmakers. Henry guesses the bear was traveling when the hunting party came upon him. The bear was shot by outdoorsman Jeff Melillo on Oct. 14, in Morris County. The 750,000 black bears of North America kill less than one person per year on the average, while men ages 18-24 are 167 . But hunting down the predator was no easy feat. One place that you can see Black Bears in Pennsylvania is Sinnemahoning State Park. First United Methodist Church of Waynesvilles response to questions about disaffiliation. Mating season for Black Bears usually starts in late May and ends in early July, however depending on the geographic location it may extend into August. Every bear hunters dream came true for 21-year-old Caleb Henry, of Fines Creek, who bagged a 695-pound black bear, the largest bear ever harvested in Western North Carolina. Little did he know this giant black bear would beat the Maine state record set in 1993 by 19 pounds. Pictured left to right are Dan Lynch, Eli Randall, Terry Mollett and Timothy Walsh, all measurers present at the special Great American Outdoors Show panel. It turns out that Henrys dogs had caught the scent of one bear while Teagues were following the trail of another. To be eligible for a Cy Curtis listing, typical elk must score a minimum of 270 and non-typical elk must score at least 310. Associated Press. Was the bear killed for food or clothing? OXFORD It was more than two years ago when Bruce Headley, 62, a hunter from Morris County bagged an 829-pound black bear on his property. Henry waited for the bear to come down the ridge toward him, and when the animal finally came in sight, 21-year-old Henry saw the largest bear hed ever seen in his life. The eastern population is into the mountainous regions of the Smoky Mountains and the cumberland population is shared with Kentucky to the north. At present, the New Jersey Sierra Club continues to seek a complete ban. Robert Shuttleworth's bear taken on a hunt innorthernCalifornia was the world record black bear for many years. A lot of them are pretty furry. Look for #4 Dover, #3 Oyster River, #6 Hanover . A disconnect between the public and the state may be paving a road to New Hampshire's first fatal bear attack in 150 years. There have been several record-book bears killed in California over the years, including a 21 7/16-inch brute harvested in Mendocino County in 2018. Congrats to Dieter on an awesome black bear, definitely worth the six hour drag out of the woods! Front claws are generally longer than hind claws. person will not be tolerated. Black Bears are less common in Southern California, although they have been seen further south in recent decades. Idahos mountainous and forested regions make a wonderful home for these animals. The 13-year-old bear measuring 6 feet, 11 inches . Human and bear interaction was a problem but has lessened over the years. 13. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Caleb Henry took the big boar while hunting with his buddy and their hounds in Haywood County. Not far from the old woolen mills, shoe factories, and more urban areas of industrial Rochester are swaths of undeveloped land abounding with Sam Mostue has lived a colorful life.He competed in equestrianevents in college, ski-raced in the northeast and rose before dawn at a ranch in A new literacy campaign launched by the New Hampshire Department of Education aims to improvereading proficiency among children by training From a shortage of wheelchair vans to a looming shortage of nursing-school faculty, from weak Medicare reimbursements to soaring cost of part-time New Hampshires black bear population is at a record level, according to the state Fish and Game Department. 2021 Bear Harvest Data. The majority of the population in the state is in Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky, along the Southern Appalachian Mountains bordering West Virginia and Virginia. Was the bear bothering anybody? Moose in NH; Moose History in NH; Wolves. Wisconsin has a growing Black Bear population of between 24,000 and 31,000 animals, mainly in the northern third of the state. Massachusetts Black bears live and breed in Worcester County, northern Middlesex County, and west to the Berkshires. mass.gov. A 700-poundbear shot in New Jersey, pictured, has set a new world record as the largest black bear ever killed with a bow and arrow in North America. Dont miss out! TheFirearmBlog // There were thought to be only about 2,000 Black Bears left in North Carolina in the 1980s. Black Bears are found throughout most of Connecticut. A total of 315 bears were killed during last years hunting periods. I sure do hope my dad missed him. You must log in or register to reply here. Kurk Mackrill killed this 23 1/16 B&C black bear in 2011 in Clark County, Wis. For more trophy records or conservation information, stop by Boone & Crockett. 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