The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reports 16 Louisiana black bears were harvested during the legal bear hunting season that ran from December 6th to the 21st. LDWF’s Large Carnivore Program manager, John Hanks, says there were three different areas where hunters could legally hunt black bears.
“There were 8 harvested in Bear Area 4, that Tensas area, and 3 harvested in the upper Atchafalaya area at Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, Saint Landry area. And then there were 5 harvested on the coast: Saint Mary, Iberia, Terrebonne, Vermillion, that area,” Hanks said.
26 tags were issued for the lottery hunt. Hanks says it’s the second straight year Louisiana had a black bear hunting season after not having one for 35 years because the animal was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
“We had a species, it was listed not even quite 10 years ago, and we’re hunting them with a high rate of success. Killing some really nice bears, as far as size. I believe our average weight this year was 341 pounds,” Hanks said.
The largest bear harvested was 565 pounds. Hanks says a bear that is well over 300 pounds is going to supply 200 plates of food for that family, and he says bear fat is also useful.
“Using that to make cookies and cobblers with, and fry their fish in it, and even waterproof their boots,” Hanks explained.
Hanks expects guidelines for the next bear hunting season will be finalized during the spring.