Black Bear
Ursus americanus
The most common bear in North America, a mostly black, shy forest animal that is hunted in many states.
- Type
- Other Big Game
- Habitat
- Forests, Mountains, Wetlands
- Typical size
- Males about 200–600 lb; females about 100–250 lb
- Range
- Forested regions across the Northeast, Appalachians, Great Lakes, the West, parts of the South, and Alaska
- Seasons
- Seasons are set by state and may be in spring, fall, or both. Rules on baiting and hounds vary widely
How to identify it
- Black coat, though some are brown, cinnamon, or blond. A tan muzzle is common.
- A straight facial profile, tall rounded ears, and no shoulder hump.
- Claws are short and curved.
- Cubs stay with their mother, and shooting a sow with cubs is illegal in most states.
Tracks and sign
- Tracks show five toes and claw marks, and the hind print looks a bit like a human foot.
- Claw marks on trees and logs torn apart for insects.
- Scat is variable and often full of berries or seeds.
- Trails and beds near food sources.
Often confused with
- Grizzly bear: has a shoulder hump, a dished face, small rounded ears, and long claws. It is protected in most of the lower 48, so identification is critical.
What it eats
- Berries, nuts, and acorns
- Grasses, roots, and insects
- Carrion and fish
- Human food, trash, and birdseed
How it's hunted
- Spot-and-stalk glassing green slopes in spring
- Hunting over bait where legal
- Hunting with hounds where legal
- Sitting at known food sources in the fall
Safety: Be sure of your target: a cub nearby means a sow. Keep a clean camp and store food securely. In grizzly country, carry bear spray and learn to tell the two species apart. Cook bear meat to well done, since it can carry trichinosis.
Field notes
Black bears are intelligent, cautious animals that use their nose more than their eyes. A bear that smells you rarely gives a second chance.
Bear hunting rules vary from state to state, so read your regulations closely, especially on bait, hounds, and sows with cubs.
Related guides
Seasons, tag and license requirements, legal methods, and bag limits vary by state and unit and change every year. Many big-game species require a drawn or purchased tag, and some animals are protected or regulated differently in different places. Check your state's current regulations — our state resources directory links straight to each state's official hunting rules and license portal.