Bear season results announced

On Nov. 19, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced preliminary results for the 2024 bear season. This fall, bear hunters harvested 4,285 bears during the five-week season, a rebound from the below-average harvest of 2,922 bears taken during last fall's bear season.

“Several factors likely led to this season’s increase in harvest,” said Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist. “In 2023, we saw an incredible amount of acorns and other natural food production. This reduced the effectiveness of baits and translated to a historically low harvest. This year, anecdotes from bear hunters and harvest data suggest less natural food availability than last year. Additionally, last year’s low harvest, coupled with bears entering dens in excellent body condition last fall, likely contributed to an increase in the number of bears on the landscape this fall.”

The 2024 bear season ran from Sept. 4 to Oct. 8. A total of 11,501 bear hunting licenses were awarded to hunters through the license lottery system.

Although the number of licenses was reduced slightly this year, hunter success rates were generally higher than expected, leading to meeting or exceeding harvest targets in most management zones. Statewide, hunter success was about 37%, up from the five-year average of 31%. Hunter success rates in individual zones varied from a high of 71% in Zone Ato less than 10% in Zones E and F. Zone C, which includes Clark County, had a 26.5% success rate.

Greenwood athletes ready to play This year’s Greenwood High School varsity basketball team consists of (front, l-r, with grade level) Addison Davidson, 12; Bailey Eckes, 11; Brooklyn Sladich, 9; Allison Stieglitz, 10; Neela Baehr, 10; (back) Eliska Louckova, 12; Tysen Lindner, 12; Tatym Travis, 11; Faith Kolano, 10; Avery Travis, 9; and Nyah La Mont, 9. Not pictured is Bria Thomas, 12.

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTO