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With the close of the 2008 bear hunting seasons on Wednesday, Dec. 17, Tennessee has recorded a new all time record harvest for black bears, according Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) reports.
Through the various seasons this fall, hunters have checked out 436 bears, which tops the previous record of 370 set in 1997.
The 2008 harvest by county: Blount 29, Carter 69, Cocke 40, Greene 34, Jefferson 1, Johnson 44, Monroe 61, Polk 44, Sevier 37, Sullivan 21, Unicoi 40, and Washington 16.
Tennessee's black bear population has been steadily increasing over the past 40 years due to several management practices put in place by TWRA. These practices include establishment of a series of bear reserves throughout the bear habitat, protection of females and cubs, and setting the majority of the bear hunting season later in the year when most females have gone to the den.
Harvest totals have varied over the past 60 years from less than 10 animals to the record of 436 set this year. The annual harvest has been more than 300 bears the past four consecutive years.
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