Do Not Shoot Bears Accompanied by Cubs
Hunting black bears can offer a deeply rewarding experience along with high-quality meat. However, a successful bear hunt involves careful preparation. One important step is learning to correctly identify black bear family groups.
Black bear cubs are dependent on their mother for the first 16 months of their life. Without her care, cubs are more susceptible to predation and starvation, and in some cases they will turn to human foods out of desperation. They are born in January and still forage, travel and rest with their mother during their first fall. It isn’t until the following spring that they are ready to strike out on their own.
For the wellbeing of Vermont’s bears, it is important that hunters take precautions to avoid harvesting sows accompanied by cubs. Follow these steps to increase the likelihood that you will correctly identify bear family groups:
- Be observant. Most adult female bears weigh between 120 to 180 lbs. Cub sizes can vary widely by their first fall depending on food availability, the fitness of the sow and the size of the litter. Cubs can range from as small as 20 lbs. to over 50 lbs. Be diligent to observe bears of these size classes to determine if they are alone before harvesting. Pre-scouting your hunting spots with a remote camera can be a useful way to learn which bears frequent the area and help you more accurately identify bear family groups.
- Be patient. Family groups may not always be within sight of each other, but members will be nearby. Take time to observe a bear to determine it is alone before harvesting. Select a shooting location that offers views of the surrounding area to increase the chance of observing potential cubs.
- When in doubt, don’t shoot.
Keep in mind, an adult female bear is unaccompanied by cubs every other year. This means there are still ample numbers of sows harvested each year.
Find additional tips for a successful bear hunt here: https://vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt/hunting-and-trapping-opportunities/black-bear/bear-hunting-tips-and-techniques
