Also known as: Black bear
The American black bear is one of the largest and heaviest wild mammals in Missouri, featuring a long muzzle with a straight facial profile, rounded erect ears, rather short stout legs, and a very short tail. Fur is predominantly black with the muzzle brown, though Missouri bears may be blonde, reddish brown, dark brown, or black. Total length ranges 46-78 inches and weight 86-600 pounds, with females generally smaller than males. Their short sharp claws enable bears to climb trees.
Habitat & Range
Black bears typically live in heavily wooded areas. In winter they den in hollow trees, caves, excavated hollows in the ground, brush piles, or other natural shelters, while in summer they sleep in trees or on the ground.
Life History
Bears are omnivores with diet influenced by the seasonal availability of different foods: in spring they eat grasses, in summer fruits like raspberries and persimmons, and in late fall hard mast such as acorns. They also consume ants, bees, honey, fish, frogs, small rodents, fawns, bird eggs, and carrion. Mating occurs in late May through June with delayed implantation of 6-7 months; young are born in late January or February while the mother is still hibernating. Litter size averages 2 cubs (range 1-4), and cubs stay with the mother through summer and typically den with her the next winter.
Status, Trends & Threats
Black bears used to be abundant in the state but had become rare by 1850 and were thought extirpated by 1931. Reintroduction in Arkansas starting in 1958 led to increased Missouri sightings, with a 2010 population study finding roughly 300 bears. As of 2021, a highly regulated hunting season was established allowing limited harvest while enabling continued population growth. Most bears live south of the Missouri River.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is black bear hunting season in Missouri?
Missouri established its first modern black bear hunting season in 2021. The season is highly regulated with a limited number of permits allocated through a lottery system, typically held in the fall. Specific dates and permit quotas are announced annually by the Missouri Department of Conservation based on population assessments.
Where in Missouri can black bears be hunted?
Black bear hunting in Missouri is primarily concentrated in the southern part of the state, south of the Missouri River, where the majority of the estimated 300-plus bears are found. Hunting is by limited permit only, and hunters must complete a bear identification course before receiving a permit.
What is the bag limit for black bears in Missouri?
Missouris black bear season allows the harvest of one bear per permit. Permit numbers are limited and allocated through a random draw. The season structure is designed to allow limited harvest while supporting continued population growth of the recovering bear population.
