An early start to the bear hunting season hasn't done much to thin the state's growing black bear population. A third year of bumper crops of the bear's natural food source of nuts and berries have kept the animals healthy and reproducing at record rates. The Department of Natural Resources was hoping this hunting season would reduce the population by about 6,000 bears, but early numbers suggest hunters will only bring in about two-thirds that number, mainly because the well fed bears are not enticed by hunters bait. David Garshelis is the DNR Bear Project leader based in Grand Rapids. He says bear mortality is also low because North Woods residents are giving pesky bears a little more leeway.