Interior hunters report early black bear harvests as spring season begins

# Interior hunters report early black bear harvests as spring season begins

Hunters across Alaska's Interior have begun reporting successful black bear harvests as the spring season gets underway, according to social media posts from outdoor enthusiasts and hunting media outlets.

MeatEaterTV, an outdoor hunting media company, shared a dispatch from a successful Alaska spring bear hunt on April 19. That same day, hunter LazerBasic posted an evening report of black bear hunting success in the Interior. A day earlier, on April 18, Hambry_com reported a spring black bear harvest in the region.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game does not yet have compiled harvest numbers for the 2026 spring season. The department manages black bear populations across Game Management Units 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20F, which cover the Fairbanks area and Tanana Valley.

Black bears typically emerge from their dens in April and May to feed on early vegetation in low-elevation areas. Hunters find them along rivers and on south-facing slopes where plants green up first.

Alaska's statewide black bear population stands at roughly 100,000 animals. Annual harvests average between 2,800 and 3,250 bears across the state, with most taken during spring months. In Prince William Sound, 80 percent of the harvest occurs in spring.

In Unit 19D East, which includes the McGrath area, the department targets a minimum harvest of 30 bears annually as part of intensive predator management. The program aims to reduce black bear predation on moose calves, supporting subsistence hunting opportunities for local residents.

The department's 2018 management report for Unit 20 regions details how black bear harvests fit into broader wildlife management objectives. Predator control programs balance bear populations with the needs of moose and caribou herds that Interior communities depend on for food.

Hunters must report their harvests to the department, which tracks population trends and adjusts management strategies accordingly. The reporting system helps biologists monitor whether harvest levels remain sustainable.

Spring bear hides lose value after mid-June when bears begin rubbing against trees and vegetation, which can limit extended hunting activity later in the season. Most hunters focus their efforts in April and May when pelts remain in prime condition.

In some areas, harvest patterns have raised management concerns. Unit 6D saw excessive female harvest that prompted the department to adjust regulations to protect breeding populations. Harvest success rates vary from year to year, with recent increases following 2020 but historical fluctuations remaining common.