The largest bear taken during Maryland’s 2026 black bear hunt came from Garrett County, with an estimated live weight of 313 pounds, according to a news release from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Garrett County also accounted for 61 of the 89 bears harvested during the state’s 23rd annual hunt, held Oct. 26-31 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties. Washington County accounted for 10 bears, and Allegany and Frederick counties had nine each.
Statewide, the harvest was 28 male and 61 female bears. DNR said the total was consistent with the 5-year average of 95 bears and identical to the 2025 harvest. Another 15 bears, four male and 11 female, were harvested between Aug. 15 and Oct. 27 by farmers with agricultural damage permits.
“Low nighttime temperatures created beautiful morning and evening conditions ideal for bear hunting and a successful season,” said Karina Stonesifer, director of DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service.
Favorable weather held for much of the season, but natural foods such as acorns and hickory nuts were reportedly hard to find, especially on public lands, according to DNR. That made it difficult for many hunters to locate recent bear signs and pattern bear movements. The daily harvest was highest early in the weeklong season, and many hunters credited their success to hunting near standing agricultural corn.
A few more numbers from the 2026 hunt: the average bear taken weighed 156 pounds, 72% of bears were taken on private land, 4,819 hunters applied for a permit, and 1,050 permits were awarded.
DNR uses regulated hunting to slow the growth of the bear population and provide relief from human-bear conflicts. Maryland’s breeding bear population is concentrated in the four westernmost counties, Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick, and the department said it will continue to evaluate its bear management strategy and make adjustments as needed.
More information about black bear management is available on the DNR website.
Photo by Mitch Adolph, submitted to the 2023 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
