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Natural Resources Board approves 2025 bear harvest recommendations; some zones see higher quotas
Summary
After staff presentation and public comment from the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, the board approved the Department of Natural Resources’ recommended 2025 bear harvest targets and license allocations, including increases in several zones and continued emphasis on adaptive, zone‑by‑zone management.
The Natural Resources Board on Jan. 22 approved the Department of Natural Resources’ 2025 bear harvest recommendations, a zone‑based set of harvest targets and license allocations the department framed as adaptive management under the 2019 bear plan.
Randy Johnson, large carnivore specialist with the wildlife management program, briefed the board on last season’s harvest and conflict trends, and presented the department’s recommendations. He said the 2024 state harvest of 4,301 bears represented a return toward the decade average after a lower year; hunter success rates and natural food availability account for interannual variation. The department’s recommendation for 2025 increases overall harvest targets from the previous year by about 6% to 4,075 bears and increases total license recommendations roughly 14% to a little over 13,000 licenses, with adjustments concentrated in zones C and D.
Johnson described the zone objectives: maintain populations in zones A and B (northern zones) while modestly increasing harvest targets in some zones to address population trends; continue targeted reduction pressures in Zone D where agricultural damage has been concentrated; and preserve local opportunity in Zone F. He told the board the department sets harvest targets, then determines license recommendations based on average hunter success rates.
Rob Bowman, chairman of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, testified in support of the department recommendations, telling the board that the WCC bear committee supported the quotas and that the recommendations used "the best available science." The board also referenced two written comments: one from the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association in support and one from the Wisconsin Animal Protection Society opposed.
Board members questioned staff on trends driving higher harvest relative to targets, including changes in hunter technology and the long wait times to draw a license in some northern units. Members praised the use of adaptive management and the department’s outreach with advisory committees. After discussion, Doug Scott moved and Patty Schachner seconded approval of the department’s 2025 recommendations; the board approved the motion by voice vote.
Department staff will carry the adopted targets into licensing and outreach work for the 2025 season and said they will continue monitoring harvest, conflict complaints and population indicators by zone.
