248 hunter permits for Utah black bears

A few more hunters will be hunting black bears in Utah this fall.

At its Jan. 10 meeting, the Utah Wildlife Board approved 248 black bear permits for Utah's spring and fall hunts. A total of 229 permits were available to hunters in 2006.

"Utah's black bear populations are stable, and I think the populations may have even increased a bit," said Kevin Bunnell, mammals program coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

"Good precipitation over the past two years has provided more vegetation for the bears to eat," Bunnell said. "Because of the improved vegetation, more cubs have been born over the past two years, and fewer bears have been coming into campgrounds and towns, looking for food."

Applications for 2007 black bear hunting permits will be available at the DWR's Web site (www.wildlife.utah.gov) by Feb. 1. Applications must be received online no later than Feb. 28 to be included in the draw for permits. Paper applications will not be accepted this year. Results will be posted by April 1.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.