Halloween is the last day of Missouri’s black bear hunting season.
Department of Conservation Director Jason Sumners provided the Conservation Commission with a progress report on Thursday.
“Black bear season was increased by four days over the previous season, and a total of 600 permits were allocated. Previously, we had allocated 400 permits across the three bear management zones,” Sumners said. “As of (Thursday) morning, nine bears had been harvested.”
The first black bear this year was harvested on opening day, Oct. 18th, by 16-year-old Corbin Wallace while hunting with his grandfather in Douglas County.
Meanwhile, the first half of Missouri’s bull elk hunting season recently ended.
“The archery portion of the elk season ran from October 18th to the 26th,” Sumners said. “Of the five permits allocated this year, one individual so far this year has been successful.”
The second half of elk season runs from December 13th through the 23rd and is designated for firearms use. Only four more elk can be harvested this year, according to state law.
As of August 2024, Missouri’s elk population is estimated to be around 320.
Meanwhile, the Department of Conservation continues cracking down on poaching.
Last month, three men were sentenced for the 2023 poaching of a bull elk, which had been found dead in Shannon County. Michael O’Neal of De Soto pled guilty to illegally killing and abandoning the elk.
“O’Neill was sentenced to 60 days in jail and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine,” Sumners said. “Execution of the 60-day jail sentence was suspended pending successful completion of two years of probation and full payment of the $10,000 fine within one year of his sentencing. ”
Sumners also said the other two men were fined $500 each, and in a separate deer poaching incident were ordered to pay $750 each to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.
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