Black Bear Hunt Areas 1 and 2 CLOSED

Spring hunt black bear quotas have been reached in hunt areas 1 and 2, which closed at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, according to a Wyoming Game and Fish press release.  The closed areas are located in the northern Bighorn Mountains. 

Black Bear Hunt Areas 3, 4, 5 and 6 are still open. Hunt area 3 and 4 are located on the western and eastern Bighorns respectively, while 5 and 6 are located on the southern Bighorn Mountains. 

WYG&F information specialist Christina Schmidt reminds hunters to always check online or call to ensure their hunt area has not closed before going out.

Bear hunters should call the Black Bear Mortality Limit Hotline at 1-800-264-1280 before going hunting to determine which hunt areas are open for hunting. 

Information on hunt area closures and quotas is updated on a daily basis and is also available online at wgfd.wyo.gov/Hunting/Trophy-Game-Harvest-Limits.

The 2020 spring black bear hunting season closes for each hunt area or group of hunt areas when the female mortality limit is reached or on June 15, whichever comes first. The female limits are used to ensure that overharvest of female bears does not occur. Black bear areas 1 and 2 have a combined quota of eight females.

It is the hunter’s responsibility to confirm that the black bear hunt area they intend to hunt is open. Hunters should check the black bear regulations for specific hunt area boundaries.

Any harvested black bear must be reported to a game warden, wildlife biologist or Game and Fish Regional office within 72 hours of harvest.