How Many Black Bears were Harvested in Missouri this year?

The results are in, how many black bears were harvested during Bear Hunting season in the Show-Me State this year...?

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12 Black bears were harvested this (very rare in Missouri) black bear hunting season that lasted less than 2 weeks. According to Ozark Radio News, the 12 Black Bears were harvested during the season that lasted from October 16th to October 25th, and it was only the 3rd official Black Bear Hunting Season in Missouri's history. Ozark Radio News goes on to say...

"More than 5,370 hunters applied during May for 400 permits for the season, with the maximum total harvest being 40 bears. Of the 400 hunters selected through a random drawing of all applicants, 342 hunters purchased permits for the season. Bear hunting in Missouri is limited to Missouri residents and restricted to three designated areas of southern Missouri called Bear Management Zones (BMZ)...All bears were harvested using firearms methods. Of the 12 bears harvested, three were boars (males) and nine were sows (females)."

For more details on this year's black bear hunting season, click here!

The maximum number of black bears that hunters were allowed to harvest was 40 bears, and they got 12, why do you think they only got 12 of the 40? I know NOTHING about bear hunting so I would guess that black bears are smart and are harder to kill, or maybe that they are just really hard to find in Missouri because the numbers are so low. Regardless, it seems the 3rd ever black bear hunting season in Missouri was a success and no tragedies came from it either which is all good news!