2021/2022 bear season proposals

2021/2022 Bear

Season Proposals

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Hampshire

Black Bear

Management

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Bait Still Hound

Black Bear Harvest In NH, 1991-2020#

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Note: Bear harvests can sometimes fluctuate drastically on an annual basis. These fluctuations are largely driven by annual food

availability. However, the overall trend in the state has been an increasing harvest over time.

Documented Bear-Human Conflicts in New Hampshire,

1993-2019

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Agriculture Property & Public Concern

Note: Bear-human conflicts also fluctuate drastically on an annual basis and are largely dependent on natural food resources.

Despite large annual fluctuations, the Department has been able to stabilize conflicts over time, despite both increasing human

and bear populations.

2021-2022 Bear Season Proposals

• When reviewing bear season proposals note that the 2020 bear population

density estimates are not yet available. Population estimates are dependent

on bear ages derived from lab analysis of teeth collected at the time of

harvest. Due to season timing, tooth age results are typically not received

until the spring.

• As a result all associated graphs show density estimates through 2019

only. While 2020 population estimates have not yet been determined, the

potential impacts from the record 2020 bear harvest were considered

when formulating 2021-2022 bear season proposals. Harvest rates were

30-50% higher than recent averages with harvest in some regions skewed

toward females.

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1.20

98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18

Be

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i.Bear Population Estimate, 1998-2019

North Region

Goal - 0.6

Note: While the 2019 estimate puts this population above objective, this is a recent and short term change at this point. Further,

the 2020 harvest in the region was 48% higher than recent averages, with a higher component of females than males in the

harvest.

Bear Season Proposal - North Region

(WMUs A, B, C2, D1)

Method2021

2022Comments

Bait 9/1 – 9/28 Same as previous

Hound9/20 - 11/9

9/19-11/8Same as previous

Still9/1 – 11/9

9/1 – 11/8Same as previous

Density Goal = 0.6 bears/mi2

2019 Level = 0.77 bears/mi2

12.5% = 0.53-0.68

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18

Be

ars

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White Mountains Region

Goal - 0.8

Bear Season Proposal – Wt. Mts. Region

(WMUs C1, D2, E, F)



Method2021

2022Comments

Bait 9/1 – 10/5 Same as previous

Hound9/20 - 11/9


Still 9/1 – 11/30 Same as previous

12.5% = 0.70-0.90

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18

Be

ars

/Sq

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Central Region

Goal - 0.5

Bear Season Proposal - Central Region

(WMUs G, I1, J1, J2)



Method2021

2022Comments

Bait 9/1 – 9/28 10/5 Addition of 7 days

Hound9/20 - 11/9


Still 9/1 – 11/30 Same as previous

12.5% = 0.44-0.56

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18

Be

ars

/Sq

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SW-2 Region

Goal - 0.5

Bear Season Proposal - SW-2 Region

(WMUs H2, K)Density Goal = 0.5 bears/mi2


Method2021

2022Comments

Bait 9/1 – 9/21 28 Addition of 7 days

Hound None Same as previous

Still

9/1 – 10/12

9/1 – 11/9

9/1 – 11/8

Addition of 28 days

including overlap with ML

deer season

12.5% = 0.44-0.56

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18

Be

ars

/Sq

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SE Region

Goal - 0.05

Bear Season Proposal - SE Region

(WMUs L, M)



Method2021

2022Comments


Hound None Same as previous

Still

9/1 – 10/12

9/1 – 11/9

9/1 – 11/8

Addition of 28 days

including overlap with ML

deer season

12.5% = 0.04-0.06

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18

Be

ars

/Sq

. M


SW-1 Region

Goal - 0.5

Bear Season Proposal - SW-1 Region

(WMUs H1, I2)Density Goal = 0.5 bears/mi2


Method2021

2022Comments


Hound9/20 - 11/9


Still9/1 – 11/9

9/1 – 11/8Same as previous

12.5% = 0.44-0.56

From Wildlife Division

Additional Bear Proposals

Modify Fis 304.04 - Wildlife Depredation Permits - to

allow bear to be handled in the same manner as deer –

allow retention by agent or commercial grower so the

animal can be utilized and not go to waste.

Modify Fis 307.05 (k, 7) to require that lottery

applications to bait wildlife on the CLHF be submitted to

the Wildlife Division in Concord (where the lottery is run)

rather than NHFG Region 1 office in Lancaster.

From Wildlife Division

Additional Bear Proposals

Modify Fis 307.02 (a)(4)- Baiting for Black Bear – to

allow 2 bait sites statewide regardless of WMU.

Currently some WMUs are restricted to a single bait

site.

2021/2022 bear season proposals

Documents