Black bear hunting season sets new record

A new record has been set for black bear hunting in Tennessee this year.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says that 566 black bears were harvested in 2009, surpassing last year’s record of 446.
Tennessee’s black bear population has been steadily rising over the past 40 years due to the establishment of bear reserves, protection of females and cubs and setting the majority of the hunting season in the fall and winter after females have gone to the den.
The annual harvest has been more than 300 bears the past five consecutive years.