MONTPELIER — Preliminary reports from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department show that hunters killed a record 750 black bears during the two-part early and late bear seasons in 2019. The previous highest harvest ever recorded in Vermont was 728 in 2004. Fish and Wildlife also says there were no hunting-related shooting incidents. The average number of bears taken over the previous 10 years was 597. The hunting season results are consistent with the goal of maintaining the bear population to within 4,500 … (read more)
