EASTON, MARYLAND — Maryland hunters harvested 89 black bears in the state's 23rd annual black bear hunt, held Oct. 26-31 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties, the Department of Natural Resources said Monday.
That is consistent with the five-year average of 95. The harvest was 28 male and 61 female bears. Garrett County accounted for 61 of them, Washington County for 10, and Allegany and Frederick counties for nine each. The largest bear had an estimated live weight of 313 pounds and was taken in Garrett County. Farmers with agricultural damage permits took 15 more bears between Aug. 15 and Oct. 27.
The department said low nighttime temperatures made for good hunting conditions, but natural foods such as acorns and hickory nuts were hard to find, especially on public land. Many hunters had trouble finding recent bear sign, and the daily harvest was highest early in the weeklong season, with many hunters crediting standing agricultural corn.
By the numbers, the average bear weighed 156 pounds, 72% were taken on private land, 4,819 hunters applied for a permit, and 1,050 permits were awarded.
DNR uses regulated hunting to slow the growth of the bear population and ease conflicts between people and bears. The department said the breeding population is concentrated in the four westernmost counties.
The 2026 total matched the 2025 harvest exactly.
Source: Maryland DNR
Drawn from public records; drafted with AI and edited by Peter Gorman before publication.
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