Black bears once roamed over much of North America, including Tennessee. By the early 1900s, bear populations had drastically declined primarily due to loss of habitat.
Bear populations in Tennessee have made a significant comeback since these historic low population levels thanks to the conservation efforts of Tennessee hunters, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA), and numerous other partners.
As part of this conservation effort, 14 female black bears were released in the Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area in the winter of 1996 and the summer of 1997. This was a cooperative effort involving Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, The National Park Service, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, USFS-Daniel Boone National Forest, and the USGS-Biological Resources Division-University of Tennessee.
Over time, this effort seemed to bring about an increase in black bear sightings throughout the northern Cumberland Plateau. As the black bear population steadily increased, biologists with the TWRA determined that a huntable population of black bears existed in some of these areas.
This 2014 hunting season, for the first time on the northern Plateau area, hunters are permitted to archery hunt and harvest black bears legally, particularly in parts of Cumberland (north of I-40), Fentress, Morgan, and Pickett (east of Hwy. 111) counties. These counties comprise what is known as Bear Hunt Zone (BHZ) 4.
Saturday, Sept. 27, was an historical day in the hunting heritage in this portion of the state. There were four bear harvests reported in Fentress County and one bear reported as being harvested in Morgan County.
The Morgan County harvest has created great interest among sportsmen throughout the area. This bear reportedly weighed between 450 and 500 pounds. Officials said, "It is exciting to have a local hunter, Mr. Wendell Freels, to harvest one of the first legal black bears on the Northern Plateau in over a century. The TWRA would like to congratulate Mr. Freels and all the successful bear hunters during this season."
As a side note, Mr. Freels is a 1973 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a degree in Forestry/Wildlife. While a student at U.T. he worked with Dr. Michael Pelton, one of the foremost authorities on black bears in North America.
The bear season in BHZ4 is archery only and closes on Oct. 24. Thus far, there have been nine bears harvested from this new bear hunting zone. The reproductive organs must remain attached to each bear harvested until the bear has been officially checked in. Sportsmen should refer to the 2014-2015 Hunting & Trapping Guide for additional information and regulations.