Bill,
Go where the bears are for a start maybe this will help;
Population Estimates of American Black Bears
State Est. Population.
Alabama <50
Alaska 100,000
Arizona 2,500
Arkansas 2,200
California 20,000 (figures from 1993 survey)
Colorado 8,000-12,000
Connecticut 15-30
Florida 1,000-2,000
Georgia 1,700
Idaho 20,000-25,000
Kentucky <200
Louisiana 200-400
Maine 19,500-20,500
Maryland 175-200
Massachusetts 700-750
Michigan 7,000-10,000
Minnesota 15,000
Mississippi <50
Missouri 50-130
Montana 15,000-20,000
Nevada 300
New Hampshire 3,500
New Jersey 275-325
New Mexico 3,000
New York 4,000-5,000
North Carolina 6,100
Oklahoma 120
Oregon 25,000
Pennsylvania 7,500
South Carolina 200
South Dakota Unknown
Tennessee 750-1,500
Texas 50
Utah 800-1,000
Vermont 2,300
Virginia 3,000-3,500 (harvest=1000/yr.+or-)
Washington 27,000-30,000
West Virginia 3,500
Wisconsin 6,200
Wyoming Unknown
Total 306,935-331,805
Looks to me like you could do your mule deer, elk and add Black Bear to your list. Lawdog
