Maryland hunters harvest 125 black bears during six-day season

Maryland hunters harvested 125 black bears during a six-day season that concluded Saturday.

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the harvest tally was higher than the five-year average of 104 bears.

Gender breakdown: 73 female and 52 male black bears.

The state's 21st annual hunt was conducted in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. The heaviest black bear, shot in Frederick County, weighed 650 pounds.

Said Karina Stonesifer, director of the MDNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service:

“Many hunters enjoyed a week of trekking through western Maryland’s mountains pursuing one of the state’s most elusive game species. The state’s bear hunting season is an essential part of the management strategy to mitigate human-bear conflict throughout the expanding black bear range.”

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Maryland hunters harvest 125 black bears during six-day season