There were 2,756 black bears harvested in West Virginia during the 2021 season, according to the state Division of Natural Resources. Two were in Wood County. (File Photo)
PARKERSBURG — Hunters in Wood and surrounding counties in the region bagged 54 black bears in the 2021 archery and firearms seasons, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
The statewide harvest was 2,756, the division said.
Two bears were killed in Wood County, located in the division’s District 6. One was taken by crossbow and the other by firearm.
Other harvests in District 6 counties were: Calhoun, 8; Doddridge, 2; Gilmer, 14; Jackson, 1; Pleasants, 1; Ritchie, 12; Roane, 4; Tyler, 3; and Wirt, 7.
The statewide harvest was 22% less than the 2020 season, the division said. Hunters in 2020 bagged 3,541 bears.
The decreased black bear harvest can be attributed to abundant mast production that was 61% above 2020 and 8% above the long-term average, the division said.
The smaller harvest was not unexpected.
The 2021 Mast Survey and Hunting Outlook predicted a lower archery/crossbow and firearms harvests compared to 2020.
“Historically, abundant mast yields result in a decreased bow and crossbow harvest and an increased December firearms harvest,” said Colin Carpenter, black bear project leader for the Division of Natural Resources. “Abundant food in the fall makes bears harder to pattern for bow/crossbow hunters but keeps bears from denning early for the December season.”
Overall, the 2021 harvest decreased during the September-October archery/crossbow and buck gun seasons, but increased during the December gun season.
Hunters killed 639 bears during the first segment of the 2021 archery/crossbow season of Sept. 25 to Nov. 21. Using vertical bows, hunters killed 342 bears, while 297 were taken with crossbows.
The top five archery counties were Fayette with 55, McDowell with 52, Nicholas with 42, Logan with 40 and Wyoming with 38.
Firearms hunters killed 2,117 bears in 2021. They harvested 780 bears in September and October, with 37 bears during the concurrent antlerless deer and bear season and four during the youth class Q/QQ, XS season, 435 during the concurrent buck-gun bear season and 900 during the traditional December season. Two bears were harvested during the fourth Mountaineer Heritage Season, which uses primitive weapons.
The top five counties were Pocahontas with 186, Nicholas with 167, Randolph with 161, Boone with 157 and Pendleton with 137.
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The District 6 black bear harvest for the 2021 seasons is:
* Wood County — 2
* Calhoun County — 8
* Doddridge County — 2
* Gilmer County — 14
* Jackson County — 1
* Pleasants County — 1
* Ritchie County — 12
* Roane County — 4
* Tyler County — 3
* Wirt County — 7
