Bears, bears, and bears. Based on the sheer number of entries in Big Game Records LIVE, North Carolina might just be the best state for a chance at a record-book black bear. And according to the County Search Tool, Hyde County is the hotspot with 58 entries since 1986. On the northeast coast of North Carolina, Hyde County has few residents (less than 5,000) and looks like it’s mostly made up of water. But big black bears seem to love it here. Yes, there is whitetail hunting here, but you’re more likely to run into a big bear.