Missouri’s 2026 black bear hunting season ran Oct. 17-30 with 26 bears taken out of a maximum harvest of 60. Steven Williams of Eminence was the first successful bear hunter of the 2026 season. He harvested this bear on public land in Shannon County. (Missouri Department of Conservation)

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports Missouri hunters harvested 36 black bears during the state’s sixth bear hunting season, Oct. 17-30.

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Originally from middle Tennessee, Zoe graduated from the University of Missouri in May 2026 with a master's in journalism. She primarily covers local government and school board and writes features for...