hunting

Black bears have long been a symbol of East Tennessee. These days they are also a symbol of successful wildlife management.

Bear hunters once harvested a handful a season and talked about the days when their grandpas were kids and the mountains were supposedly full of bears.

For bear hunters these were the good old days.

Just like the state's deer and turkey hunters, bear hunters continually watch their annual harvest totals rise. This year, hunters bagged 308 bears, tying 2005 as the second-best year on record.