State’s first black bear season begins

By Ed Godfrey, Outdoors Editor Comments 4
Published: October 1, 2009
Modified: September 30, 2009 at 9:50 pm

"I think a lot of people are excited about (today),” said John Benge of Tulsa. "At least those of us who are going after bears.”

A female black bear is shown coming out of hibernation. AP photo

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Oklahoma’s first black bear hunting season opens today in four southeastern Oklahoma counties: Le Flore, McCurtain, Pushmataha and Latimer.

Benge, 57, and his daughter, Jennifer, 27, who lives in Oklahoma City, will be sitting with their bows in a double ladder stand on family land in southern Le Flore County today from daylight until dark, or until a bear comes to their bait.

"I’ve got one hooked on Twinkies,” Benge said.

The Benges are two of an estimated 100 bowhunters who will be participating in Oklahoma’s inaugural black bear season.

As of Tuesday, state wildlife officials said 72 bear licenses had been sold to hunters, but that doesn’t include licenses sold in rural Oklahoma by "mom and pop” stores still compiling the information by hand.

Those typically represent about 30 percent of hunting and fishing license sales, said Melinda Sturgess-Streich, supervisor of licensing at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Since archery season is now open, the only bear licenses now being sold are for muzzleloader season.

If 20 bears haven’t been killed by bowhunters by Oct. 24, then hunters with muzzleloaders will get an opportunity to reach the combined season limit of 20 bears.

State wildlife officials took a conservative approach by limiting the number of bears that could be taken by hunters at 20 because they are not sure many bears reside in Oklahoma.

But state wildlife officials say they know through a six-year Oklahoma State University research project that the population is growing and can support a limited hunting season.

Neighboring Arkansas has allowed black bear hunting for several years. Last year, 430 black bears were killed by hunters in Arkansas.

In the southeastern Oklahoma mountains, where black bears have roamed across the Arkansas border and taken up residence, a population of 500 bears would be "a very conservative estimate,” said Alan Peoples, chief of the wildlife division for the state Wildlife Department.

Since 1991, state wildlife officials have responded to 500 nuisance calls about bears, including from Benge’s sister and nephew, who live north of Octavia.

"They have had to call the state in several times to trap bears,” Benge said. "They are real watchful of the kids. They have had quite a few close encounters. It’s like that just about everywhere in that area.”

Just last week, a bear stuck his head out of the brush and was watching his sister’s neighbors who were having a weenie roast in their back yard, he said.

The Benges just might be the first Oklahomans to legally harvest a bear. Three bears have frequented their barrel of sweets and been caught on trail cameras in the past month. Two are large bears, he said.

"One, its belly is probably six inches off the ground, it’s so big,” Benge said. "The other isn’t too far behind.”