STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT WILDLIFE DIVISION

29 November 2016
RE: Bear Season Update #5

As of November 28th, 870 bears (469 males, 401 females) have been reported to the bear project.  Bait hunters harvested 484 bears (272 males, 212 females), still hunters/stalkers took 277 bears (142 males, 135 females) and hound hunters registered 109 bears (55 males, 54 females).  The overall harvest sex ratio was 1.2 males per female.  Method-specific harvest sex ratios include 1.3 m:f for bait hunters, 1.1 m:f for still hunters  and 1.0 m:f for hound hunters.

On a regional basis, 161 bears (78 males, 83 females, 0.9 m:f) were taken in the North, 276 (148 males, 128 females, 1.2 m:f) in the White Mountains, 274 (151 males, 123 females, 1.2 m:f) in the Central, 89 (52 males, 37 females, 1.4 m:f) in Southwest-1, 69 (39 males, 30 females, 1.3 m:f) in Southwest-2 and 1 (1 male) in the Southeast region. 

Below is a breakdown of the bear harvest through the end of the season for the past 6 years.  This year’s harvest concluded 30% above the 5-year in-season average of 668 bears.  Additionally, this year’s harvest was 15% above the 2015 level.  

The 2016 statewide bear hunting season has ended.  The bear season this past fall turned out to be a record-setting year in several regards.  The statewide harvest of 870 bears represents a new record surpassing the previous high of 812 bears in 2012.  This year’s bait harvest (484 bears) is the highest on record exceeding the previous high of 430 bears in 2012.  On a regional basis, record harvests were achieved this fall in the White Mountains, Central and Southwest-2 regions.  The current harvest continues to represent an unofficial tally as additional registration forms may be received in the next several days.  A final season tally will be provided during mid-December.

Please submit any outstanding registration slips and premolars to the Wildlife Division in Concord by Friday, December 9th.  Thanks again for your assistance with registering bears this fall.