The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is recommending changes to the state’s bear permit area boundaries. The agency says there have been only a few changes like it since the early 1990s.
Since both the number of interested hunters and bears has increased. The DNR says that, mixed with the bears making their homes in concerning places creating “agricultural conflicts,” this is a good time for the changes that aim to allow more hunting.
Dan Stark, the DNR’s large carnivore specialist said, “Where we can help address some of the conflict by allowing more hunting opportunities, we’re going to do that.” The counties in the recommendations, for now, include Mille Lacs, Morrison, Becker, Mahnoman, Clearwater, and Pennington.
Stark said, “It’s primarily with crops like corn, soybeans, or sunflowers, feeding on those crops that can cause damage in those areas.”
He said the bears have slowly been expanding south and west and now probably occupy nearly half to two-thirds of the state.
