Black Bear

California is now one of the top-producing black bear states in the Lower 48. And hunter success rates keep clawing their way up each year. But don't let that fool you, black bear hunting can be challenging and dangerous if cubs are stumbled upon.

The highest specific bear densities are in northwest California in the Klamath National Forest, the Marble Mountain Wilderness and the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Because these areas have huge expanses of land between roads, the hunt lends itself to the hunter with a pack on his back.