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, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced. The first bear hunt in Louisiana in more than 35 years was conducted in December of 2024 with 10 harvested.

Eight 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.’’

Bear Area specific population estimates and vital rate data were used to determine the number of bear harvest permits issued. There were eight permits issued in Bear Management Area 1, three permits in Bear Management Area 2, and 15 permits, including a Secretary’s permit, in Bear Management Area 4. Cubs and females with cubs are not legal to harvest. A cub is defined as any bear less than or equal to 75 pounds.

Hunts were restricted to properly licensed Louisiana residents by lottery.

All black bear lottery fees and license revenue 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.

The Louisiana black bear is one of the state’s most recent conservation success stories. The animal was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1992. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of many stakeholders to monitor black bear population numbers, restore habitat and protect the bear for the long term, it was removed from the list in 2016.

For more information on the Louisiana black bear, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/subhome/louisiana-black-bear. And for more information on the black bear hunting lottery, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/black-bear-hunting-lottery.