In this episode of The Spotted Dog Podcast, we sit down with John Hanks, Large Carnivore Biologist with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, to unpack the historic 2025 Louisiana black bear hunting season.

Not long ago, the Louisiana black bear was on the brink of disappearing. Today, thanks to decades of research, habitat work, and careful management, the population has rebounded enough to support a tightly regulated harvest. John walks us through how that recovery actually happened, what biologists are seeing across the state right now, and why this season marked such an important milestone for conservation.

We talk population numbers, habitat expansion, how bears are being monitored, what surprised biologists during the 2025 season, and what the future holds for both hunters and the species itself. This is a behind-the-scenes look at modern wildlife management and a reminder that conservation success stories don’t happen overnight.

Whether you’re a hunter, landowner, or someone who simply wants to understand how Louisiana’s wildlife is managed, this conversation gives real insight into one of the state’s greatest conservation comebacks.

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