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Bear Harvest

From Andrew Timmins, NH Fish and Game Bear Project Leader

 

Updated December 13, 2021

 

2021 IN-SEASON BEAR HARVEST TALLY COMPARED TO PREVIOUS 5 YEARS
DATE 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
9/30 685 430 894 616 963 640
10/31 828 522 1,030 771 1,118 782
11/17 893 582 1,050 863 1,141 812
TOTAL 898 587 1,053 886 1,183 885

 

 

2021 Bear Harvest Data

The 2021 statewide bear hunter harvest represented the fifth highest harvest in New Hampshire history.  This year’s harvest was similar (-4%) to the preceding 5-year average (922 bears) and 25% below last year’s record harvest (1183 bears).  The harvest consisted of 475 males and 410 females resulting in an overall harvest sex ratio of 1.2 males per female.  Method-specific harvest sex ratios included 1.3 m:f for bait, 0.8 m:f for hound and 1.1 m:f for still hunters. A breakdown by region and method follows.

 

2021 NH Black Bear Harvest by Region
North Region WMUs A, B, C2, D1
Total Harvest 173 bears (81 females, 92 males)
Harvest by method (#  bears) Bait (127), Hound (19), Still (27)
5-year mean harvest (2016-2020); % change 164 bears; +5%
White Mountains Region WMUs C1, D2, E, F
Total Harvest 271 bears (117 females, 154 males)
Harvest by method (#  bears) Bait (163), Hound (44), Still (64)
5-year mean harvest (2016-2020); % change 276 bears; -2%

Central Region

 WMUs G, I1, J1, J2
Total Harvest 258 bears (133 females, 125 males)
Harvest by method (#  bears) Bait (140), Hound (37), Still (81)
5-year mean harvest (2016-2020); % change 297 bears; -13%

Southwest-1 Region

 WMUs H1, I2
Total Harvest 72 bears (33 females, 39 males)
Harvest by method (#  bears) Bait (39), Hound (13), Still (20)
5-year mean harvest (2016-2020); % change 95 bears; -24%

Southwest-2 Region

 WMUs H2, K
Total Harvest 98 bears (41 females, 57 males)
Harvest by method (#  bears) Bait (57), Still (41)
5-year mean harvest (2016-2020); % change 84 bears; +17%

Southeast Region

 WMUs L, M
Total Harvest 13 bears (5 females, 8 males)
Harvest by method (#  bears) Bait (4), Still (9)
5-year mean harvest (2016-2020); % change 6 bears; +117%   

 

Interpretation of harvest data and ages of harvested bears will be complete and available by mid-winter.