Maryland's Expanded Black Bear Hunt Ends With Record Tally
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is reporting record results from state's expanded black bear hunt.
Bear Project Leader Harrry Spiker tells the Cumberland Times-News that the tally reached 162 Thursday, the last day of the four-day season. Hunters have 24 hours to report their kills, so that number could rise.
Hunters took 95 bears last year. That was the highest number since Maryland ended a 51-year moratorium on bear hunting in 2004.
DNR issued 750 licenses this year, a 50 percent increase over last year. The hunt was also expanded to include Washington and Frederick counties. It was previously restricted to Allegany and Garrett counties in far western Maryland.
The state is home to more than 1,000 bears, according to a 2011 population estimate.
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