Mississippi hunters urged to take precautions around black bears

Mississippi hunters may encounter black bears in the woods during deer season, and state officials recommend taking precautions to avoid unwanted encounters.

Hunters should remain calm and keep their distance if they see a bear. They should recover harvested deer quickly, particularly in areas where bears are known to be present, and never approach a bear feeding on or guarding a carcass.

If a bear is near a harvested deer, hunters can consider bringing another person or driving a vehicle to the carcass, if possible. The recommendations also suggest carrying bear spray or an air horn, removing food and scented items from hunting stands, and disposing of deer remains far from camps and frequently used areas in accordance with regulations.

Bears may also be attracted to wildlife feeders. BearWise offers guidance on making feeders more resistant to bears at https://bearwise.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/make-your-wildlife-feeder-bear-resistant.pdf and additional hunting safety tips at https://bearwise.org/bear-safety-tips/hunting-safety/.

Source: Original Article