2025 Bear Hunters Have Big Harvest With Big Bears

Michigan’s 2025 black bear hunt will be remembered by many hunters for a lifetime, thanks to one of the best harvests in years, highlighted by several large bears.

Michigan Black Bear Hunting

Michigan's black bear hunting seasons vary by location, but generally run from early September through late October. Bear hunting locations are primarily in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula.

There are three different hunting periods, and hunters are allowed to use dogs or bait. Some bear hunters use both. Hunting in a blind or tree stand near a bait pile is the most common, but there are many hunters that still use dogs. Most hunters use firearms, but there are some that will use a bow or crossbow.

Some Michigan black bear hunting seasons are better than others, but one thing is for certain, the population is growing, and the animals are getting bigger.

Read More: Michigan Shortens Coyote Season, Adds Management Hunt

2025 Bear Hunters Celebrate One Of The Biggest Seasons

According to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources press release, the 2025 bear harvest was strong and included several bears in the 400 to 500 pound range. The DNR says nearly 2,000 bears were harvested in the Upper and northern Lower Peninsulas, but the really large bears were taken on the U.P.

Michigan hunters harvested 1,952 black bears in 2025, which was slightly higher than the state's five-year average of 1,911 in a year. Most of the harvest came from the U.P., but 430 of those bears were from the northern L.P.

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The DNR says the great harvest was due to a good year for food sources such as vegetation and berries. If these type harvests continue, it could give more opportunities for hunters to get tags.

👇BELOW: What black bears want, and how to deter them👇