CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) - Hundreds of hunters are heading out in search of black bears this week.

Continue reading

The hunt, the eighth in recent years, opens Monday in Garrett and Allegany counties and lasts through Saturday. However, the hunt will be stopped once the quota of 55 to 80 bears is reached. That's a lower harvest quota than last year's 65 to 80.

Bear hunting in Maryland resumed in 2004, after a more than 50-year moratorium. More than 340 bears have been killed by hunters during the seven previous hunts.

This year, 260 hunters have been awarded permits and each can name a hunting partner. However, the pair may take only one bear.