Black Bears in SE Texas

[splitfinger]

For years I have heard of the Black Bear being re-introduced into East Texas but never knew where they are located. I had dinner last night with some friends from Kirbyville and they showed me a trailcam pic of a Momma Blackie with two cubs. The cubs looked like they were about 75 lbs. each and the pic was from a lease in the Kirbyville area. I guess the rumor is true.

Doug Key

[flywise]

yep, most likely true

[Outbreaker]

The official TPWD position was that all the sightings were pigs, and that hunters should not be drinking. This was from the 60's- the 90's.

Then a pregnant wild sow was killed by a car outside of Dallas. Then overnight you saw signs pop up saying.....Hunters, do not mistake bears for pigs or face massive fines.

They are endangered Louisiana Black Bears and while not common (yet) they are there. Anything east of I-45 should know that they might be there, just rare.

[Rtree1]

Not sure bout that

[Grizz83]

Coworker who lives in Deweyville area had a black bear on his game came at his house not too long ago.

[Chew]

EAST TEXAS COUNTIES WITH DOCUMENTED BEAR SIGHTINGS SINCE 2000

Angelina, Bowie, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Lamar, Marion, Montgomery, Morris, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Wood.

[MisterSanders]

Maybe they'll eat all the pigs. If they're in Jefferson, they'll be in Chambers before long. My grandpa had picture of my great grandpa with a couple bears and prairie dogs after a day of hunting.

[Outbreaker]

EAST TEXAS COUNTIES WITH DOCUMENTED BEAR SIGHTINGS SINCE 2000

Angelina, Bowie, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Lamar, Marion, Montgomery, Morris, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Wood.

If these are confirmed you can bet that every county touching one of these has them from time to time.

[hunter7]

I hunted at a lease in Sheffield, Texas last winter and had a 3 come into the feeder. Cool to see but they tear up the feeders trying to get the corn out.

[AntlerCollector]

EAST TEXAS COUNTIES WITH DOCUMENTED BEAR SIGHTINGS SINCE 2000

Angelina, Bowie, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Lamar, Marion, Montgomery, Morris, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Wood.

I'm in Hardin County. If you wanna see a bear try talking to my wife before she has her morning coffee!

[xman59]

EAST TEXAS COUNTIES WITH DOCUMENTED BEAR SIGHTINGS SINCE 2000

Angelina, Bowie, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Lamar, Marion, Montgomery, Morris, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Wood.

they need to add tyler county,, i saw one about 8 years ago, only a couple hundred yards from the neches

[Chew]

Here's an email from TPWD Biologist:

We have now confirmed 5 Class 1 black bear sightings in East Texas and there are at least two more sighting reports in some stage of investigation. Class 1s come from Bowie (1), Red River (3) and Smith (1) counties and occurred over the period June-August 2016. I haven’t sorted out yet whether some of the confirmed sightings might have been of the same bear – but will be working on that. Also, I have no explanation for what’s driving the dispersal of bears in our direction; population density or crop failures in established population in OK, AR or LA are possibilities, although it’s hard to imagine the latter given the abundance of food in East Texas forests. All confirmed Class 1s were captured at feeder sites with game cameras. These are the first Class 1s in East Texas since September 2011.

[kurt68]

I've posted this before:

[Preacher Man]

Range conditions being as good as they are right now might be a factor.

[Outbreaker]

I would love to see some while hunting with my kids.