Black bear harvest data

Find the number of bears harvested in Massachusetts over the past two decades.

2025 harvest report

In 2025, 251 bears were harvested across the thee hunting seasons, 160 in the September(17 days), 51 in November (18 days), and 40 during the deer shotgun season (12 days). This is fairly consistent with previous years (245 in 2023 and 262 in 2024), but represented a considerable reduction in harvest compared to the record 325 in 2020. A record 56 bears were taken east of the Connecticut River in 2025 and while it is still relatively low, harvest in eastern Massachusetts has consistently increased in recent years, mirroring the growth of the population in that portion of the state.

2025 totals by season:

• September: 160
• November: 51
• Shotgun deer season: 40
• Statewide total: 251

Massachusetts black bear harvest by county

Year	Total	Berkshire	Franklin	Hampden	Hampshire	Middlesex	Worcester	Plymouth
2025	251	108	49	30	43	0	22	0
2024	262	100	51	42	43	3	23	0
2023	245	80	54	44	49	3	14	1
2022	223	79	51	34	43	2	14	0
2021	218	81	55	35	28	1	18	0
2020	325	113	80	62	48	1	21	0
2019	207	82	45	33	29	1	17	0
2018	204	78	41	47	22	3	13	0
2017	270	119	64	38	40	0	9	0
2016	283	106	57	65	42	1	12	0
2015	237	75	77	30	38	1	16	0
2014	240	78	56	51	43	4	8	0
2013	148	57	33	25	24	1	8	0
2012	185	47	56	39	36	1	6	0
2011	131	45	25	23	31	0	7	0
2010	144	57	42	16	26	0	3	0
2009	169	61	42	27	35	1	3	0
2008	100	41	24	9	23	0	3	0
2007	143	71	33	9	29	1	0	0
2006	148	76	32	17	18	0	5	0
2005	113	52	34	14	13	0	0	0
2004	146	56	30	33	27	0	0	0
2003	153	66	43	20	23	0	1	0
2002	116	50	27	21	17	0	1	0
2001	104	36	30	17	21	0	0	0
2000	81	33	21	9	18	0	0	0