Major Success: Louisiana Wraps Up 2nd Black Bear Season with 16 Harvests

Just under forty years ago, Louisiana's black bear population had gotten so dangerously low, bear hunting was officially outlawed in 1987 and by 1992, the Louisiana black bear was officially placed on the endangered species list.

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Fast forward to about 2023 and the resurgence of Louisiana's black bear numbers was high enough that it became a point of some intense conversations at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Those conversations culminated with a recognized need for a controlled population reduction; an extremely limited bear season that would allow for some experimentation with limited bear harvest.

That first season debuted in December of 2024 and allowed for a total of 11 tags that would be provided to the winners of a hunting lottery. And talk about success! Of those 11 tags issued, 10 were used after successful harvests by Louisiana hunters.

After that first success, LDWF conducted another lottery in 2025, with a slight increase to the number of permits issued and once again, the season proved an incredible success.

In a notice from LDWF, we learn that a total of 16 Louisiana black bears, consisting of 10 males and six females, were harvested during the second bear hunting season that ran from Dec. 6-21, 2025.

Eight of these Louisiana black bears were harvested in Bear Area 4, including the largest at 565 pounds. Three bears were taken in Bear Area 2 and five in Bear Area 1. Twenty-six tags were issued for the lottery hunt. "Our second bear hunting season proved to be successful and a tribute to the conservation effort of our department, private landowners, hunters and other partners who helped bring back the Louisiana black bear," LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth said. "We’re pleased to give our state hunters a chance to enjoy this special season. And the lottery revenue which comes from the hunt helps to make sure the Louisiana black bear thrives."

On those lottery fees and license revenue, LDWF writes that they will be reinvested directly into the Louisiana Black Bear Program. These funds will assist LDWF biologists in continuing to conduct bear management operations such as annual live trapping and radio-collaring of bears, winter den checks to monitor reproductive rates and non-invasive hair sampling to monitor range expansion.