Bear-specific Hunting Regulations
Customers who have checked a bear will be sent envelopes to submit their hair and premolar samples with.
Legal Hunting Equipment and Methods
- Legal Hunting Equipment for bear is the same as legal hunting equipment for deer, except shotguns must be 20-gauge or larger and may use only rifled slugs.
- It is unlawful to take a bear that is being pursued by dogs.
Bear Checking Requirements
Option 1. Immediately upon taking a bear (before moving it), you must check your harvest online, by the AGFC mobile app or phone (833-289-2469) and have confirmation number readily available.
Option 2. Fill out the game tag in ink. You may substitute a piece of paper for this tag; it must include the hunter’s name, the date and bear zone of harvest or confirmation number written legibly in ink. After tagging your game, call 833-289-2469, visit www.agfc.com or use the AGFC mobile app within 12 hours to complete checking.
Before freezing or processing, collect a premolar and hair to submit later. While no longer required, successful hunters are encouraged to submit a premolar and a hair sample for research purposes.
Watch a video on how to remove a black bear’s premolar and collect hair samples.
Baiting
Bait, foodstuffs or the use of any kind of lure to attract bears is not allowed except on private lands in bear zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 5A, 30 days before the opening day of the first bear season until the last day of the last bear season in each respective bear zone.
If baiting bear within the CWD Management Zone before Sept. 1, only the following baits are allowed: dog food, cat food, pastries/breads, cooking oils and grease, non-wildlife meat scraps, popped popcorn and fish or fish byproducts.
