Louisiana’s new black bear hunting season opened on Saturday, but it will remain limited for now. Governor Jeff Landry announced the season, which will run until December 22, highlighting the state’s successful conservation efforts that have seen the bear population recover to nearly 1,500. The Louisiana black bear was under protection due to near extinction in 1992, but has since been removed from the endangered list in 2016.
Despite opposition from conservationists and residents, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission issued 10 permit tags for hunters, with the first going to a group that takes military veterans hunting. Only one tag was issued through a public lottery for hunting on state land.
Hunters with tags can only kill adult male black bears in specific areas of northeast Louisiana. The agency will monitor the bear populations and adjust the number of hunting tags as needed for future seasons. The limited access to this season of bear hunting reflects the careful management and balance necessary to respect the black bear population in Louisiana.
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Photo credit lailluminator.com