DNR increases number of licenses, kill quota for fall bear hunting season

Black bear hunters in Wisconsin will see slight increases in the number of licenses available and the kill quota for the 2023 season.

The number of licenses available statewide will increase 4.9% to 12,760, while the harvest goal will get nudged up 1.7% to 4,575 bears, according to Department of Natural Resources figures.

The Natural Resources Board approved the plan Jan. 25 without change. It had been developed by the DNR's bear advisory committee and supported by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress' bear study committee and the DNR's wildlife leadership team.

Wisconsin has a robust bear population estimated at 25,429 animals last fall, according to the DNR. Competition continues to increase for bear hunting opportunities in the state; a record 136,463 applications were received in 2022 for a kill permit or a preference point to be used in a future drawing.

The tweaks approved last week come as the state is settling into a six-zone bear management program instituted in 2021.

Biologists and wildlife managers reviewed the previous two years of data from the modified zone system to come up with the recommendations for 2023.

Hunters registered 4,110 bears in Wisconsin last fall, on par with the 10-year (2012-21) mean of 4,171.

State wildlife biologists and managers assign each zone an objective of increase, decrease or maintain the bear population.

The goals are based on bear nuisance complaints, agricultural damage, hunter satisfaction, hunter crowding/conflict, hunter success rates and data on bear health, according to the DNR.

The 2023 objective in Zones B, C and E is maintain, while A is maintain/increase, D is decrease and F, which has the fewest bears and least amount of bear habitat, is "allow local control."

The biggest change in permits will occur this fall in Zone D, where 4,035 licenses (a 10% increase) will be available. The adjustment is designed to increase the kill and put downward pressure on the bear population in the area.

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DNR will continue to monitor bear harvest data and adjust as needed

Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist, said the agency's bear advisory committee would continue to closely monitor data and results from 2023 and other future seasons and make adjustments as necessary to hit objectives.

Each additional year should help reduce uncertainty in factors such as harvest success rates in the new zone boundaries, he said.

Interest in bear hunting continues to increase in Wisconsin, according to DNR data. Last year the record 136,463 applications included 36,303 for a kill permit and 100,160 for a preference point.

The minimum number of preference points needed to draw a license in 2022 were: Zone A, nine points (an increase of one from the previous year); Zone B, 12 points (up one); Zone C, two points (no change); Zone D, two points (no change); Zone E, one point (no change); Zone F, two points (up one).

A similar number of preference points is expected to be necessary to get a permit in each zone this year.

The deadline was Dec. 10 to submit a Wisconsin bear season application. The drawing is typically held in early to mid-February and winners are notified by postcard. Applicants also can check the status of their submission on GoWild.Wi.gov.

DNR to hold listening session for input on wolf management plan

The DNR will hold a public listening session at 4 p.m. Tuesday on the proposed Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan.

This listening session was announced last week as an additional opportunity for those interested to provide input on the draft plan. The proposed updates to the wolf plan were released in November; the public review and comment period is open until Feb. 28.

Registration is required by noon Monday for anyone wishing to provide comment on the proposed plan during the listening session. Registrants will speak in the order they’ve signed up and each speaker will have two minutes. Speakers also are encouraged to review the plan on the DNR’s Wolf Management Plan webpage before joining the listening session.

People who don't want to provide testimony but want to view the proceedings can watch a live feed of the hearing on the DNR’s YouTube channel. After the event, the recording will be accessible on YouTube for on-demand viewing.

Tuesday's hearing will begin with DNR staff providing a brief overview of the draft plan before moving into the public comment period. In a statement, the DNR said to make sure it hears from everyone who registers to speak, its staff will not be addressing questions at the hearing.

In addition to the public listening session, the DNR will continue to accept comments through the online comment tool, email (DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wisconsin.gov) or through the U.S. mail until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 28.

Send comments by U.S. mail to: Wolf Management Plan Comments, 101 S. Webster St., PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.