Black Bear season wraps in Missouri for second year

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that Missouri hunters harvested eight black bears during the 2022 bear-hunting season, Oct. 17–26, 2022.

More than 5,880 hunters applied during May for 400 permits for the season with the maximum total harvest being 40 bears. Of the 400 hunters selected through a random drawing of all applicants, 350 hunters purchased permits for the season.

Bear hunting in Missouri is limited to Missouri residents and restricted to three designated areas of southern Missouri called Bear Management Zones (BMZ). Each permit issued is for a specific BMZ and hunting is limited to public or private property within the BMZ.

The Joplin region lies in BMZ 1. All eight bears were harvested in BMZ 1 out of a maximum of 20 with 177 hunters purchasing permits to hunt the zone. No bears were harvested in BMZ 2 out of a maximum of 15 with 128 hunters purchasing permits to hunt the zone. No bears were harvested in BMZ 3 out of a maximum of 5 with 45 hunters purchasing permits to hunt the zone.

| RELATED FROM 2021 >>Missouri’s first bear hunting season starts

This year, three of the eight bears harvested were taken with bows. During last year’s inaugural season, all 12 black bears harvested were taken with firearms. MDC notes that an even ratio of male and female bears were harvested this year, similar to last.

“We anticipated a lower harvest this season over last,” said MDC Bear Biologist Nate Bowersock. “Bears love gorging on acorns in the fall and the acorn crop around the state was much more plentiful this season over last. This resulted in bears moving less often and being more dispersed, which made it more difficult for hunters to find them.”

THE MO. DEPT OF CONSERVATION BMZ ZONES

Black bear hunting is allowed south of the Missouri River in three Black Bear Management Zones (BMZs). You may hunt only in the BMZ specified on your permit.

BMZ 1

The portion of Missouri west of a line running north from the Arkansas border on U.S. Highway 63 to U.S. Highway 60; west on U.S. Highway 60 to MO-360; west on MO-360 to Interstate 44; west on Interstate 44 to the Oklahoma border

BMZ 2

The portion of Missouri east of a line running north from the Arkansas border on U.S. Highway 63 to Interstate 44; east on Interstate 44 to State Highway 47; north on State Highway 47 to the Missouri River; east along the Missouri River to the Illinois border

BMZ 3

The portion of Missouri south of a line running east from the Kansas border along the Missouri River to State Highway 47; south on State Highway 47 to Interstate 44; west on Interstate 44 to U.S. Highway 63; south on U.S. Highway 63 to U.S. Highway 60; west on U.S. Highway 60 to MO-360; west on MO-360 to Interstate 44; west on Interstate 44 to the Oklahoma border.

Learn more about Missouri black bears and bear hunting in Missouri by clicking here.

Stay with Joplin News First on KOAM News Now as we continue to learn more on the work of Missouri Conservation in the state.

FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS, SEE NEWS WHILE YOU SURF…

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

Joplin News First (@joplinnewsfirst) • Instagram photos and videos

Bear population is growing, what to do if you hit a bear?

TEXAS COUNTY, Mo. — With the Missouri bear population continuing to grow more are crossing roadways.

Troop G of the Missouri State Highway Patrol state, “this cub was struck on State Route PP, north of Cabool. As Missouri bear populations grow, drivers must remain vigilant for bear crossings.”

As with deer experts say to never swerve to miss an animal. You could be hurt worse by overturning or crashing head-on with an oncoming vehicle.

| MORE BEARS >> ‘Bear in the Air’ over Joplin; Police agencies work an aggressive vehicle enforcement event

If you do swerve and crash your vehicle? Most insurance won’t cover your damages since it would appear as a single vehicle crash.

What to do if you hit a bear?

Lauren Copple, Naturalist, tells us, “Stop and call the conservation department. Do not try to poke or move the animal it could be wounded and confused/scared if it comes to.”

If your car is disabled wait for police to arrive and they can handle the situation.

Missouri Dept of Conservation will want to measure, evaluate and take samples and try to learn everything they can from the bear,” Copple says finally, “Do not try to load it up and take it home.”

Just as deer there are certain parameters to taking home animals struck by a vehicle.

| DO NOT SWERVE TO MISS ANIMALS >> Young man killed in ATV crash, Missouri State Highway Patrol state he swerved to miss a dog

If you strike an animal and your car is not disabled. Call 911 and they will contact conservation agents on your behalf where you are located.

Stay with Joplin News First on KOAM News Now as we continue to cover stories and articles that relate your life! Scroll below and sign up for our JLNews1st email list so you don’t miss an article.

| MORE JOPLIN NEWS FIRST
• Grand Country Resort sign returned BIT.ly/3vbTv2B
• Wildland Fire Danger BIT.ly/3vaX4pR
• Woman missing more than a week BIT.ly/3RPeySb
• U.S. Route 66 signs came down 37 years ago BIT.ly/3Oy2hPf
• OIS near Cunningham Park BIT.ly/3Bgy7wS

Wildlife crossing the roadway and being struck unfortunately happens far too often, but rarely the victim is a black bear cub. This cub was struck on State Route PP, north of Cabool, Texas county. As Missouri bear populations grow, drivers must remain vigilant for bear crossings. pic.twitter.com/1nQq3YV7fC

Bear sighting reported to Seneca, Mo. Police; What should you do?

SENECA, Mo. — On Tuesday, April 5, Seneca Police state they received a report of a bear sighting in their city.

Bears come out of their dens in early spring in search for food. An easy source of food are bird feeders, trash receptacles and pet food,” Seneca Fire/Police say in a release of information. 

Don’t harass the animal. You can report the sighting to your local law enforcement and to the county conservation agent. They can be contacted through the following:”

Chief James Altec tells Joplin News First there were no photos along with the report. However bears are in the area. Images in this article are from a July 2019 sighting in Newton County at a residence.

This is a developing story, stay with Joplin News First on KOAM News Now as we continue to learn more.

 

Missouri Trout Season opens, marking the unofficial beginning of spring

NEOSHO, Mo. — Tuesday, March 1, is the opening of Missouri trout ‘catch-and-keep’ season.

“Opening Day tags are available now! Get a head start on the Opening Day festivities by getting you tag early. Be prepared by purchasing your Missouri Fishing License online before you get to the park.” – Roaring River State Park

The catch-and-keep season at the trout parks runs through Oct. 31.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) operates trout hatcheries at all four parks and stocks rainbow trout daily throughout the season.

👉🏽 HICKORY CREEK AT NEOSHO: If you want to fish closer to home, just downstream from the historic Neosho Fish Hatchery is Morse Park. They will be stocking Hickory Creek with rainbow trout for the opener on Tuesday at Morse Park.  Fishing begins at 6:30 a.m. and one must have the appropriate Fishing License and Trout tag to fish.

The area of Morse Park is a related conservation area along Hickory Creek through an agreement with the Missouri Department of Conservation and the city of Neosho. The area is owned and maintained by the City of Neosho.

Trout anglers need a daily trout tag to fish in Missouri’s trout parks.

👉🏽 For more information on the four trout parks from MDC online.

👉🏽 MDC encourages trout anglers to buy their fishing permits ahead of time from numerous vendors around the state.

You can also download MDC’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download through