124 bears taken during 2018 S.C. Mountain Bear Harvest

South Carolina hunters took a total of 124 bears during the 2018 Mountain Bear Harvest

Oconee was top-producing county

The 2018 Mountain Bear Harvest was the second best season on record with a total of 124 bears taken. This included 55 during the still hunt and 69 during the dog hunt which included 66 males and 58 females taken in three counties.

Greenville County took 15 males and 6 females on the still hunt; 1 male and 4 females on the dog hunt for total of 26. Pickens County took 8 males and 11 females on the still hunt; 11 males and 17 on the dog hunt for a total of 47. Oconee County had the most taken with 12 males and 3 females on the still hunt; 19 males and 17 females on the dog hunt for a total of 51.

Oconee County had the largest bear that weighed 519 pounds. The big male was taken during the dog hunt.

According to the SCDNR, the reason this year was so successful was that multiple bears could be found in pockets where the acorns were abundant, and the hunters had easier access to them.