With the black bear population doing extremely well in Utah, the Utah Wildlife Board has approved an increase in permits offered. In under 20 years, the number of bears has almost tripled, reports the Department of Wildlife Resources, and while last season the number of permits resulted in 365 bears taken in Utah, officials hope the permit increase will result in closer to 400 bears taken this season. “The state’s bear population has been growing steadily since 1998,” shares game mammals coordinator Darren DeBloois. Something hunters must know is that after taking a bear, the animal must be brought to a DWR biologist or conservation officer for an analysis that gives officials information about how the population is doing. Officials strictly adhere to a Black Bear Management Plan to help ensure the state maintains a healthy and stable bear population. To learn more about hunting black bear in Utah, visit.
www.wildlife.utah.gov
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