Warning :Texas Hunters, Do You Need To Watch For Bears This Season?

When Texas hunters think of dangerous animals they could encounter while on a hunt, they probably think of rattlesnakes, or perhaps packs of feral hogs.

However, while Texas is not known for bears, there are some areas of the state where a bear encounter is possible.

Confirmed sightings of bears have occurred in some counties near the Oklahoma border but confirmed breeding pairs of bears have only been identified in West Texas.

There is only one type of bear native to Texas- the black bear. And thanks to conservation efforts in surrounding states, you may see one in Texas.

Of course, attracting one to your hunt site is bad idea. Here are some tips from the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife to avoid bears causing chaos at your hunting site:

Keep hunting camps clean to prevent odors that will attract bears.

Discard gut piles far away from campsites.

Placing deer corn in piles or in open feeders will attract more bears. Using an automated feeder hung out of reach of bears will decrease bear visitation.

Switching bait types from corn to soybeans will reduce bear activity.

Planting food plots is the best way to attract deer and avoid bear visits!

Of course, since they are rare, it is illegal to hunt, hurt, or harass the bears.

It is a violation of law to kill a black bear in Texas, with penalties of up to $10,000, added civil restitution fines, jail time and loss of all hunting privileges.

Black bears shouldn't pose an active threat, as they are much smaller and more timid than other North American bears. There has never been a bear-related fatality recorded in Texas. Of course, you don't want to be the first, so keep that hunt site clean.

At a distance, a black bear and a feral hog can look similar, so it is important to be vigilant before you pull the trigger. Know your target, and avoid massive penalties for hurting bears.