It’s bear chase season in Kentucky and state Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources officials are reminding hunters of the rules of the game. Bear chase season, which hunters use to train dogs, runs through the end of the month and again from September 9th to the 30th. Wildlife biologist Tristan Curry said during those periods, hunters can’t kill black bears – which seem to be thriving in some parts of the state.
“It does seem that we get more and more sightings and some of the peripheral areas, you know maybe around towards Louisville and outside around Richmond, Lexington, stuff like that.”
The seasons and durations for dog-assisted archery and gun seasons begin in October and vary, depending on the region. Curry said most bear hunters aren’t just in it for a trophy.
“A lot of the guys that are part of the traditional bear hunting, whether it is archery dogs or gun, they're not as interested in the pelt, or as some people will look at it, the trophy aspect of each animal. They're there for the meat as well.”
Bear hunters must have a valid Kentucky hunting license and a bear chase or combination permit.
For more information, go to the department's website, https://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Bear-Hunting.aspx
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