Duck Mountain, Manitoba, produced this black bear scoring 21 inches B&C for Wayne R. Schatzman in 2000.

Trophy Search is also the name of the Boone & Crockett Club's online searchable records database that dates back to 1833. This column will analyze these historical records to provide you with information that just may help put you in font of a trophy of a lifetime.

The common black bear is a uniquely North American species found from Alaska throughout the Canadian provinces, in thirty-two U.S. states and south into northern Mexico. While the vast majority of black bears live in the North and West, healthy populations can be found on the East Coast, south through the Appalachians and across the southeast from Florida to southern Louisiana.

Current population estimates are 300,000 to 340,000 in the U.S. and 360,000 in 375,000 in Canada. Accounting for bear in a population census is difficult due to their secretive, nocturnal lifestyles. The good news is that black bear populations are slowly expanding across all ranges.

From an historical records perspective (1830–2007), out of the thirty-six categories of native North American big game recognized by B&C, black bear trophies rank third in total number of entries (2,048) behind whitetail deer (9,886–typical and nontypical) and pronghorn (2,611).

This column will focus on trophy areas in the upper Midwestern and provinces. In all-time ranking of total entries, WI, MB, MN, MI, ON rise to the top trophy destinations. Wisconsin ranks No. 1 out of all states and provinces in trophy entries with 299. Of these 299 total entries 206 (69 percent) have been taken in the last ten years. From the same region, Manitoba ranks No. 6 for total entries with 103, sixty of which have been taken in the last ten years. Forested habitat is key to healthy bear populations, and consequently trophy potential, as evidenced by population density studies as well as B&C records data.

Note: B&C records data tracks location by county in the U.S. and the nearest identifiable or known landmarks or communities in Canada and Alaska such as lakes, river drainages, mountain ranges, islands, etc. Consequently, in Canadian provinces and Alaska distribution of record book entries may appear to be spread across many locations when in fact, if pin-pointed on a map they may actually be bunched together.

"Trophy Search" is a new monthly column that will provide the most up to date trophy destination information on all North American big game species. Trophy Search is also the name of the Boone & Crockett Club's online searchable records database that dates back to 1833. This column will analyze these historical records to provide you with information that just may help put you in font of a trophy of a lifetime.