Oklahoma could possibly get a Black Bear season

The school I attend (Oklahoma State University) has been performing a study on the Black Bear population in Oklahoma since 2000. Their studies have shown a steady increase in population of about 10-12% each year. With the support of Senator Kenneth Corn a bill has been proposed that would allow the hunting of black bears in several Oklahoma counties. Currently, the bill has passed the Senate and is now waiting approval from the House before it goes to be signed by the governer.

The proposed archery season would take place during the first 4 weeks of October, followed by a nine day primitive firearms season. Oklahoma's bear population is estimated between 700-800 Black Bears. The quota would be around 20 bears taken for the whole season.

Here is an article explaining everything I just said, only a little more clearly
http://ocolly.com/2009/03/03/department-of-wildlife-conservation-requests-bill-for-black-bear-hunting/

If this baby passes you can bet I will be trying my hardest to get my hands on a bear tag

 

That is friggin' awesome bro, I hope it passes!

 

That would be sweet!

 

You better put on some pounds if you're gonna wrestle with some bear Will. :d

 

LOL....yeah, and I also heard there were a ton of hogs in OK......that didn't pan out either..... ;p

 

I heard you were too busy "hoggin", and not too worried about hunting hogs

 

Cool...I had no idea there are any bears in OK.

I would imagine drawing one of them 20 or so tags will be tough.

 

We just had a bear season pass in KY. 2 day season, good luck to anyone trying...I think there are only something like 450 bears in the entire state, and they are VERY migratory from what I hear. Still neat to have another big game animal available to hunt though.

 

Texas has a growing black bear population as well although there are currently no plans for a season that I am aware of. BUT... Arkansas isn't far, has a good population and has reasonable tag fees for non-residents. Who wants to plan a trip for spring of 2010?

 

We could try for pigs in Oklahoma again before we set off for a bear hunt.

 

Works for me. The $500 rolling deer camp could make the trip. I justchecked the Arkansas DNR site. There is no spring season it would have to be a fall trip. Anyone that wants to try this fall could also hunt deer and hogs with me at my lease in NE Texas.

 

Good luck getting that tag Willy

 

Best of luck getting the bear hunt. New Jersey had one a couple of years ago (2003 maybe), and harvested roughly 850 bears in 5 days. It has been shut down by the anti's since then. The bears are worse than ever and its getting worse. For the record, I did not sign up for the bear hunt because it was slug gun only.

 

Bear tracks bear tracks lookin' back at me...

Anybody? Andybody? Will, please tell me you know where that's coming from.

As for da bears, me 'n Willy gonna get us sum o dem new rugs. Dem ones that goes on the bax uh yas couch o unda dat cofe taba. :d

 

Some folks say he looks alot like me :d


WOW, I will never be able to take bear hunting seriously now that I am reminded of that song (which was buried in my deepest vault apparently). If I ever get in a bear stand I'll just hum Ole Slewfoot the whole time and not see any bears

 

They (ambiguous "they" ) say geniuses come from Oklahoma. You hum, I'll wrestle... I think they're a little bit more my size :d

 

I heard about that. There's quite a few for sure, has been for many years, I know of a few "encounters"