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Colorado Black Bear Hunting

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Male black bears can weigh 275 lbs. in Colorado.

Colorado is a known for producing trophy bull elk and mule deer bucks, but an overlooked big-game species is the black bear. Black bear hunting is important to Colorado's economy because it provides income from tags and tourism. Black bears can be found throughout the western two-thirds of Colorado in terrain such as the San Juan Mountains and San Luis Valley.

  1. Significance

    • Black bears are, by nature, curious and will explore different food options that smell appealing. Hunting seasons are designed to keep black bear populations reasonable to limit the number of bear-human confrontations. During a dry season, the number of confrontations could increase.

    Types and Size

    • Color phase--when a black bear's fur changes to a pale brown or blond color--black bears are rare in Colorado. For the most part, black bears in Colorado are medium-size bears. Males weigh about 275 lbs. and females weigh about 175 lbs. Heading into hibernation, some male black bears could weigh up to 450 lbs.

    Time Frame

    • Black bear hunting seasons are determined in five-year periods by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Each season is separated by weapon--archery, muzzleloader or rifle. Check with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to find the season for each weapon.

    Regulations

    • The bear hunting permits are issued as over-the-counter tags with caps. This means that anyone can purchase a black bear tag until they are sold out. Colorado does not allow baiting of black bears. Most hunters will use spot-and-stalk and still-hunting techniques to kill a black bear. During firearms seasons, each hunter must wear at least 500 square inches of solid fluorescent orange.

    Habitat and Forage

    • Black bears are omnivorous and can be found wherever there is food. In Colorado, this typically occurs around oak and aspen or open areas with chokeberry and serviceberry bushes. A diet for black bears will consist of grasses, berries, fruits, acorns, insects and nuts. Depending on the availability of food, their home range can be anywhere from 10 to 250 square miles.

    Considerations

    • Consider hiring an outfitter or research public hunting land if you wish to hunt on your own. Review maps of national forests and talk to game wardens or conservation officers about areas with a high density of black bears. Purchasing preference points will allow you to hunt a tough-to-draw unit.

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  • Photo Credit The Bear goes where the Bear wants to go image by Ian Shorr from Fotolia.com

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