(Provided by MDNR)

The Michigan DNR has approved bear hunting regulations for the 2017-2018 hunting seasons.

In order to reduce regulation confusion and to stabilize hunting quotas, bear hunting regulations currently are reviewed every two years instead of annually, which had been the previous practice. Michigan bear hunters will see the following changes beginning in the 2017 bear hunting season:

• Chocolate and cocoa products completely banned as bear bait, due to the potential harm imposed on bear and other wildlife species.
• Nonresident license cap increased from a maximum of 2 percent to a maximum of 5 percent of the total license quota.
• License quota in all three northern Lower Peninsula bear management units increased by 19 percent overall, totaling 155 additional licenses.
• Upper Peninsula quotas adjusted by individual bear management units, both increases and decreases.
• Quota increased from one to five on Drummond Island.
• Number of dogs to pursue bear for hunting or training increased from six to eight.

In the last year, both the DNR's Wildlife and Law Enforcement divisions and the Bear Forum reviewed suggested regulation changes. The Bear Forum, an advisory group with representatives from 12 different organizations and six nonaffiliated hunters, also includes the U.S. Forest Service. The forum met several times to discuss possible bear management decisions.

The bear hunting application period is coming up, May 1 to June 1. Learn more by watching a video about the bear drawing process or by visiting michigan.gov/bear.