November 11th, 2024 - Pope and Young, North America’s premier bowhunting conservation organization recently came alongside to lend their hand in the efforts of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to collar black bears. Pope and Young was able to step up financially in underwriting the expenses behind the collars and the black bear study. Doug Clayton, Pope and Young’s Conservation Chair, was also able to lend his hand in helping the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife in trapping and collaring the bears.

With funds raised from the Pope and Young Bowhunter Bashes held in TX, UT and MN, Pope and Young was able to purchase radio collars to aid in the Kentucky bear study. The following information comes from Matt Catron, Regional Wildlife Biologist III, explaining the reasoning behind the KY black bear study.

“We currently have a need to do some research on male bear patterns in relation to corn/crop fields in Southeast Kentucky,” stated Catron. “In one area of a county that I cover, a 160 acre or so corn field had sixteen bears killed legally due to destruction of property (agriculture). We would like to trap some bear causing damage in the corn, plus trap in our typical research trapping areas around there, next crop season and put GPS collars on the males and release them to see their habits in relation to the agriculture around their home area.”

Catron continued, “We're really interested in seeing if they are local bear (i.e., just a mountain or two around the farm) or if they are traveling many miles or couple of counties away to get to the corn. This would provide valuable data which could be used for hunting season modifications or addressing concerns regarding nuisance animal harvest. We would be able to show them facts/maps of the bears in question to support our decisions. The last GPS data we have is from 2009 I believe, that shows a "typical" bear home range in far east KY that has never seen a crop field, only woods; and we have no data showing their habits, behavior, and travel when they lived in an area of agriculture.”

“The location we trapped in is where the bigger forests start to be broken up and sparse, due to agriculture, whether crop/cattle fields, or for homes. If you look at Wayne County with aerial imagery, it is split between forest/timber and open agricultural grounds. Then the following counties going West and NW have more open ground than forested. This data should help us get a better representation of our resident bear, and bear that are transient, being drawn in from the smell of the corn, when there is minimal food source available at that time of year.”

On September 16-18th Clayton was able to work alongside the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife to catch and collar catch two bears, a third bear was caught the day Clayton was returning home. This coming late February/Early March they plan to check several den sites, to gather information on the radio collard sows and then chip the cubs. The plan again is for Pope and Young to have a presence at this event and lend their hands in the study of these black bears.

Thank you to the Pope and Young members who attended the various Bowhunter Bashes and contributed financially to Pope and Young’s conservation effort, and the furthering of the much needed black bear studies in Kentucky. It is because of your support of Pope and Young and your desire to see the continued conservation of wildlife in North America that made this project possible.

About Pope and Young:
The Pope and Young Club is North America's leading voice and supporter of bowhunting and related conservation issues and projects. If you are a fair chase, ethical bowhunter, and you care about preserving, protecting, and promoting the culture and future of bowhunting, then you should belong to the Pope and Young Club. Join today at www.pope-young.org.