Black Bear Hunt Areas Closed in Bighorns

The fall black bear season in Hunt Areas 1 and 2 closed on Monday, September 3rd.
The closed areas are located in the northern Bighorn Mountains.
According to officials with the Game and Fish Department, the black bear hunting season closes for each hunt area in the black bear management unit when the female mortality limit has been reached, or on Oct. 15th, whichever comes first. The female limits are used to ensure that over-harvest of female bears does not occur.
Bear hunters should call the Black Bear Mortality Limit Hotline before going hunting to determine which hunt areas are open for hunting black bear. It is the hunter’s responsibility to confirm that the black bear hunt area he or she intends to hunt is open.
Any harvested black bear must be reported to a game warden, wildlife biologist or Game and Fish Regional office within 72 hours.