The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds Missourians interested in hunting black bears in the state to apply during May for one of 400 permits being offered by MDC for the state’s first black-bear hunting season October 18-27. The maximum total harvest for the season will be 40 bears.

Bear hunting in Missouri is limited to Missouri residents and restricts bear hunting to three designated areas of southern Missouri called Bear Management Zones (BMZ). Hunters must apply for a specific Black Bear Management Zone. Permit and harvest quotas for the season will be:
· BMZ 1: Permit quota of 200 issued with a harvest quota of 20 bears.
· BMZ 2: Permit quota of 150 issued with a harvest quota of 15 bears.
· BMZ 3: Permit quota of 50 issued with a harvest quota of five bears.

Each permit will be for a specific BMZ and may be used on public or private property within the BMZ. Hunters who are issued permits must call MDC prior to hunting each day to determine if the BMZ-specific harvest quota has been met. Quota information will be updated no later than midnight on each day of the black bear hunting season. If a BMZ-specific harvest quota is met, the season for that BMZ will be closed. If harvest quotas are not reached, the season will close at the end of the 10 designated hunting days.

Apply May 1 to 31 online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits.