Yes, it is legal, but not very wise if you want to anchor the bear. Black bears I have seen average about 250 lbs, but I have also seen one that went 680 lbs IIRC. They are not terrifically hard to kill with a well-placed shot to the head. But that generally only works for baited and treed bears. As davlandrum said, it's no longer leagal to do either. I would recommend something a little bigger.In Oregon, where both Hunter33 and I (and it looks like a lot of other posters) live, it is perfectly legal.