2024 harvest report
2024 saw the fourth highest harvest ever with 262 bears harvested across 7 counties. The September harvest of 189 bears is also the 4th highest overall. Harvest in the November (shotgun) season was the lowest since the season was established 10 years ago. This suggests bears denned early last year, which is supported by data from the bear collaring study. A record 52 bears were harvested east of the Connecticut River, which tracks with the observed growth of the population in eastern portions of our state bear range.
2024 totals by season:
- September: 189
- November: 43
- December: 30
- Statewide total: 262
Massachusetts black bear harvest by county
| Year | Total | Berkshire | Franklin | Hampden | Hampshire | Middlesex | Worcester | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 262 | 100 | 51 | 42 | 43 | 3 | 23 | - |
| 2023 | 245 | 80 | 54 | 44 | 49 | 3 | 14 | 1 |
| 2022 | 223 | 79 | 51 | 34 | 43 | 2 | 14 | - |
| 2021 | 218 | 81 | 55 | 35 | 28 | 1 | 18 | - |
| 2020 | 325 | 113 | 80 | 62 | 48 | 1 | 21 | - |
| 2019 | 207 | 82 | 45 | 33 | 29 | 1 | 17 | - |
| 2018 | 204 | 78 | 41 | 47 | 22 | 3 | 13 | - |
| 2017 | 270 | 119 | 64 | 38 | 40 | - | 9 | - |
| 2016 | 283 | 106 | 57 | 65 | 42 | 1 | 12 | - |
| 2015 | 237 | 75 | 77 | 30 | 38 | 1 | 16 | - |
| 2014 | 240 | 78 | 56 | 51 | 43 | 4 | 8 | - |
| 2013 | 148 | 57 | 33 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 8 | - |
| 2012 | 185 | 47 | 56 | 39 | 36 | 1 | 6 | - |
| 2011 | 131 | 45 | 25 | 23 | 31 | - | 7 | - |
| 2010 | 144 | 57 | 42 | 16 | 26 | - | 3 | - |
| 2009 | 169 | 61 | 42 | 27 | 35 | 1 | 3 | - |
| 2008 | 100 | 41 | 24 | 9 | 23 | - | 3 | - |
| 2007 | 143 | 71 | 33 | 9 | 29 | 1 | - | - |
| 2006 | 148 | 76 | 32 | 17 | 18 | - | 5 | - |
| 2005 | 113 | 52 | 34 | 14 | 13 | - | - | - |
| 2004 | 146 | 56 | 30 | 33 | 27 | - | - | - |
| 2003 | 153 | 66 | 43 | 20 | 23 | - | 1 | - |
| 2002 | 116 | 50 | 27 | 21 | 17 | - | 1 | - |
| 2001 | 104 | 36 | 30 | 17 | 21 | - | - | - |
| 2000 | 81 | 33 | 21 | 9 | 18 | - | - | - |