Maryland Black Bear Hunting Permit Winners Drawn

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Cumberland, MD — On Thursday, September 6, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held the drawing for the 2007 Maryland Black Bear Lottery. A record number of 2,804 applications were received over the 30-day period online and by telephone, with the vast majority being filed online.

“Maryland’s black bear hunt offers sportsmen a unique hunting opportunity while at the same time helps us manage a growing population,” said Paul Peditto, DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service Director. “The 17 percent increase in applicants this year attests to the fact that Maryland hunters are learning more about bear hunting opportunities.”

A total of 220 black bear hunting permits were awarded by a random selection process. The list of winning applicants will be available online at http://blackbear.dnr.state.md.us starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 7, 2007. Applicants who have misplaced their lottery number may call DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 410-260-8540 to obtain this information.

Starting this year, a “preference point” system will be applied to all permit applicants, allowing those that apply next year an extra entry in the 2008 Black Bear Lottery.

DNR’s fourth Black Bear Hunting Season will be conducted as a split-season, and is scheduled to take place from October 22 through October 27, 2007 and December 3 through December 8, 2007. A guide to hunting bear in Maryland is available at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/BlackBearHunt.asp.

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September 7, 2007

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov