Maryland Black Bear Trophy Hunting Starts Monday: DNR Allowing Unlimited Numbers To Be Killed Again This Year!

Starting Monday, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is once again allowing Maryland’s black bears to be trophy hunted in Western Maryland. Like last year, there will be no quotas on the total number of bears the hunters can kill. They killed a record number of 95 bears in 2015 just in Garrett and Allegany Counties, up from 69 bears killed in 2014.

This year DNR expanded the hunt to include Washington and Frederick counties, too, with 750 hunters awarded lottery driven permits to participate.

  • Even the baby bears, called cubs, are legal game. Some being killed in the past were under 6 months old.
  • ​Children can hunt, too, the same as adults wielding high-powered rifles as weapons assuming they have the proper licenses. Tough to get? Well, five year olds have passed the necessary Maryland “Hunter Education Requirements.”
  • In addition, hunters may use bows and arrows as killing instruments: A practice requiring them to hit the bear with an arrow, then wait and track it after it suffers from its wound while “bleeding out.” Assuming the hunter can find the bear at all after it runs away hurt.

Maryland’s black bears are depending on us. Call Governor Hogan’s office at 410-974-3901.

Let’s put an end to the black bear trophy hunt in Maryland!