Bear Hunting License: Cost, Season Dates & Best States (2026)

Bear tag costs span an enormous range across US states. In many eastern states, this table lists no separate bear tag price because bear access is handled through the base hunting license or big-game license layer; hunters still need the qualifying license and any method, season, or reporting requirements. New Jersey charges the lowest separate bear tag fee in the country at just $2 (resident and non-resident). Pennsylvania's bear tag costs $16.97 resident / $36.97 non-resident for OTC access to an 18,000+ bear population — representing some of the best value for non-residents seeking quality bear hunting in the East. Maine charges $27 resident / $74 NR for OTC access to 35,000+ bears with three distinct hunting methods available.

Western state bear tags are higher. Montana offers OTC black bear tags at $20 resident / $350 NR. Wyoming charges $40 resident / $287 NR. Colorado's bear archery season is OTC at $51.25 resident / $506.92 NR; the rifle season is by limited draw. Idaho offers OTC spring and fall black bear at $22.75 resident / $227 NR with baiting and hound hunting allowed in some zones. Arizona requires a draw permit ($27.50 resident / $160 NR) for its limited Mogollon Rim hunt. Michigan and Minnesota both use lottery draw systems ($15/$150 and $44/$247 respectively). Alaska charges $25 resident / $450 NR for black bear; brown/grizzly bear is $1,000 NR with a guide requirement for all non-residents.

Most draw states charge a non-refundable application fee separate from the tag price. Michigan's UP bear draw application requires a $5 fee; successful applicants then pay the $15 resident / $150 NR permit. Minnesota's lottery application is $10. Utah's limited-entry draw ($83 resident / $333 NR) uses a bonus point system. Wisconsin issues harvest permits by lottery for its 3-method bear season in northern Wisconsin ($49 res / $160 NR). For hunters who want guaranteed annual bear hunting without draw uncertainty, Pennsylvania and Maine in the East, and Idaho and Montana in the West, provide OTC options with no draw required.

Bear hunting methods are more regulated than almost any other game species in North America, with states falling into distinct categories. Bear baiting — placing food attractants at a site to attract and pattern bears — is legal in approximately 9 states: Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Baiting produces the highest success rates of any bear hunting method (25–40% nationally; skilled baiters in Maine report 30–50%+ success). A typical bait site uses buckets or barrels filled with grain, pastries, or other high-calorie foods, positioned near a tree stand. Season-long baiting requires significant pre-season effort with regular bait replenishment.

Hound hunting uses trained dogs to track and tree bears, allowing hunters to pursue bears over large territories. Hound hunting is legal in approximately 12 states: Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Maine, Idaho, Wisconsin, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Arkansas, and parts of Montana and Utah. Hound hunters typically drive roads until dogs pick up a fresh bear track, then run the pack. Hunts can cover miles over rugged terrain and may result in a treed bear within hours or extend over multiple days. Hound hunting success rates rival baiting. California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington have all banned hound hunting through voter initiatives.

Spot-and-stalk is the primary method in states that have banned both baiting and hounds: California (non-toxic shot required statewide), Colorado (archery OTC September, rifle by draw), Montana (no baiting, no hounds), and Oregon (spring baiting banned 2025). In western states, glass-and-stalk hunting in oak brush, berry patches, and along mountain slopes requires patience and scouting. September and October are ideal for spot-and-stalk as bears enter hyperphagia — their pre-hibernation feeding phase — and become more predictable in their movement to food sources including manzanita berries, whitebark pine nuts, acorns, and corn fields. California produces a significant annual black bear harvest (over 1,500/year) entirely through spot-and-stalk.

Bear seasons divide into two primary periods: spring (April–June) and fall (August–December). Spring seasons are available in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Spring hunts target bears emerging from hibernation when they are concentrated in low-elevation areas seeking early green-up vegetation and carrion. Spring bear hides are in prime condition before insects and rubbing cause hide damage. Fall seasons coincide with hyperphagia, when bears consume up to 20,000 calories per day to build fat reserves for hibernation — fall bears are heavier, more predictable, and often feeding in visible locations. Most eastern states offer fall-only seasons. Some western states (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming) offer both spring and fall.

All black bear hunting in the contiguous 48 states targets American black bears (Ursus americanus). The estimated continental population exceeds 900,000 animals, making black bears the most abundant bear species in North America. Brown bears and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) are protected under the Endangered Species Act in the lower 48 states — hunting grizzly bears south of Canada is not legal. The only huntable brown/grizzly bears in the US are in Alaska, where the population is approximately 30,000. Alaska charges $1,000 NR for a brown bear tag, and non-resident hunters are legally required to hire a registered Alaska guide. Alaska's black bear (Ursus americanus) are OTC at $450 NR with no guide requirement.

In states where both grizzly and black bear ranges overlap — portions of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington — hunters must positively identify the species before shooting. Misidentifying a grizzly bear as a black bear is a serious federal offense under the Endangered Species Act. Both species can be black, brown, cinnamon, or blonde in color — key identification features include the grizzly's prominent shoulder hump, dished facial profile, and short rounded ears versus the black bear's straight facial profile, taller ears, and absent shoulder hump. All states require mandatory harvest reporting for black bears, typically within 24–48 hours, and many require biological sample collection (tooth extraction for age determination).