Wisconsin bear hunters have season on par with prior years

Madison, Wis. – On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced preliminary results from the 2025 bear season. Bear hunters harvested 3,724 bears during the 35-day season, placing this season on par with the five-year average of about 3,800 bears annually.

This year’s harvest was slightly below the overall harvest target of 4,075 bears, but within the expected range of harvest for this fall.

“Reports from the field seemed variable this year,” said Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist. “Some hunters reported this was one of the best years of bear hunting they’ve experienced, while others were challenged by abundant acorns and corn, reducing the effectiveness of their baits.

“Bear hunters across the state also faced below-average temperatures in the beginning part of the season, followed by above-average temperatures towards the end of the season, each of which can affect bear activity. Overall, hunter success rates ended up slightly below average, translating to overall bear harvest right about where we anticipated.” 

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The 2025 season ran from Sept. 3 to Oct. 7. A total of 13,110 hunting licenses were awarded to bear hunters through the license lottery system.

Statewide, hunter success was about 28%, slightly below the five-year average hunter success rate of 32%. Hunter success rates in individual zones varied from as high as 69% in Zone A to less than 10% in Zones E and F.

“Each year, we evaluate the outcome of the harvest season as well as several other important metrics such as agricultural damages due to bears and residential bear complaints. We use this information to adjust license and harvest levels as needed in different regions of the state to affect the bear population and data trends. This adaptive management strategy is what allows us to strive towards sustainable bear population levels, compatible with the habitat and public preferences,” said Johnson.

Here’s a look at zone-specific preliminary registration:

Benefits of bear hunting

The DNR notes that Wisconsin has a thriving bear population, estimated at around 23,000 bears, with a range covering more than half the state. 

While bears have tremendous cultural and ecological value, they can also conflict with human interests, damaging agricultural crops or raiding residential trash and bird feeders. While most conflicts are addressed through education and other non-lethal means, hunting plays an important role in balancing bear populations.

“Aside from being a management tool that ultimately supports healthy bear populations, bear hunting also provides wonderful opportunities to experience the outdoors with the company of family and friends. Harvested bears provide both a source of sustainable protein and memories that can last a lifetime,” said Johnson.

Hunters provide critical data from every harvested bear, which is the backbone of population monitoring efforts and ensures a healthy and sustainable bear population into the future. Bear hunter license fees also supply key funding for bear management, research and outreach activities.

Hunters wishing to obtain a license or preference point for the 2026 season must apply in Go Wild or at an authorized license agent before the Dec. 10 deadline. State law requires bear permit applicants to apply at least once during any period of three consecutive years to retain their accumulated preference points; otherwise, all accumulated preference points will be lost. 

Over 146,000 people applied for a bear hunting license or preference point for the 2025 season, setting an all-time high record number of applicants. To help hunters make hunting plans, a full breakdown of the 2025 bear license drawing results and license wait times is available online.

Visit the DNR’s Bear Hunting webpage to learn more about black bear hunting, ecology and management in Wisconsin.