Black Bear Hunting Permit Applications To Be Accepted By Phone

Annapolis, MD — On August 24, 2009, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin accepting phone-in applications from hunters wishing to participate in this year’s black bear hunting permit lottery. Applications will be accepted over the phone between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM from August 24 through August 28, 2009 ONLY. Applicants may call 1-888-579-6768 to apply. Maryland’s black bear hunting season occurs October 26-31, 2009 in Garrett and Allegany counties.

Applications are currently being accepted online at http://blackbear.dnr.state.md.us. Hunters may continue to apply online 24 hours a day through 11:59 PM on September 1, 2009. All applicants must submit a $15 application fee via credit card, check, or money order. Checks and money orders must be received by 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 and should be made payable to MDDNR Black Bear and mailed to MDDNR Black Bear, P.O. Box 360, Frostburg, MD 21532. Only one application per person will be accepted. Duplicate applications will result in disqualification and the loss of all fees.

Harry Spiker, Game Mammal Section Leader for DNR reminds hunters that “they must apply each year to retain their preference points in the lottery. Preference points offer additional entries in future lotteries and hunters may opt to purchase a preference point only. This will allow those hunters who cannot hunt in 2009 the opportunity to retain their preference points for use in future lotteries.”

According to Pete Jayne, Associate Director of Game Management for DNR, “this year’s hunt will follow the same successful model we’ve used for the last five bear hunting seasons. It will remain a quota-driven hunt, with an established quota of 60 – 85 bears. Once the quota is reached, DNR will close the bear hunting season.” According to Mr. Jayne, 240 bear hunting permits will be awarded for the 2009 hunting season.

New this year, applicants will have the option of voluntarily contributing to the Black Bear Damage Reimbursement Fund when they apply for a permit. Donated funds will be used to directly reimburse Maryland farmers who have suffered agricultural damage caused by black bears. The Black Bear Damage Reimbursement Fund was established in 1996 and has paid out more than $98,000 in eligible claims to Maryland farmers.

For more info, please visit: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/BlackBearGuide.asp.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 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