Black bear in Central Illinois???
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,828
Black bear in Central Illinois???
Interesting to see how this plays out.......
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/09/17/bear_carcass_found_in_douglas_county
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/09/17/bear_carcass_found_in_douglas_county
#2
RE: Black bear in Central Illinois???
Hmmm, I wouldntbe surprised if therewerea few bears down in Shawnee National Forest. Or maybe up in the Mississiipi River bottoms on the Wisconsin border. But this is a pretty strange place to have one turn up.
#3
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,828
RE: Black bear in Central Illinois???
Other than some river frontage here and there the only place I can think of a bear would be is Walnut Point SP near Oakland in that general area. And that is a well used park. I doubt a bear would want to hang around there. About 20 years ago hunting Hardin Co. we ran across a old timer who swears his group had come across some bear tracks in the Shawnee. It will be interesting to see what the outcome of the Hugo bear will be.
#4
RE: Black bear in Central Illinois???
Anybody know when the last time there was any significant verified black bear population in Illinois. I seem to recall an old newspaper article in Richland County that talked about a group of hunters killing a bear in the Embarrass River bottoms around the turn of the century, but i could be wrong.
#5
RE: Black bear in Central Illinois???
ORIGINAL: Lanse couche couche
Anybody know when the last time there was any significant verified black bear population in Illinois. I seem to recall an old newspaper article in Richland County that talked about a group of hunters killing a bear in the Embarrass River bottoms around the turn of the century, but i could be wrong.
Anybody know when the last time there was any significant verified black bear population in Illinois. I seem to recall an old newspaper article in Richland County that talked about a group of hunters killing a bear in the Embarrass River bottoms around the turn of the century, but i could be wrong.
I believe you are correct. The early 1900's was about the end of the black bear in IL. I still see newspaper clippings at my grandparents about wolf hunts in the 40's and 50's in Crawford County.
#6
RE: Black bear in Central Illinois???
Read this. (different part of Central IL)
http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/index.php?/pso/article/bureau_county_bear_sighted_again/
http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/index.php?/pso/article/bureau_county_bear_sighted_again/