Report Nr. 3226 1994 Michigan Black Bear Hunter Survey Results

For the fifth consecutive year, a statewide black bear (Ursus americanus) harvest zone and quota system was utilized in 1994. The same eight bear management units, seven in the Upper Peninsula, including Drummond Island. and one covering much of the northern Lower Peninsula, were opened to hunting. In addition to the two regular hunt periods for each of the Upper Peninsula units, except Drummond Island, which had only one, an experimental third hunt period was held in the Gwinn management unit to explore ways to give more hunters an opportunity to bear hunt. There was only one hunt period in the Lower Peninsula. Statewide in 1994, an estimated 4,613 hunters harvested 1,260 bear. This was the third consecutive year that the harvest was between 1,200 and 1,300 bear. Twenty-seven percent of the hunters filled their harvest tag which was comparable to 1992 and 1993 hunter success rates. The composition of the bear harvest, 58 percent males and 42 percent females, was also similar to the two previous seasons. Forty-one percent of hunters rated their bear hunting "very good" or "excellent," while 34 percent felt their experiences were "fair" or "poor." The remaining hunters rated their bear hunting experiences as "good."