An AO tag is for deer only and really has nothing to do with your bear tag.....Your bear tag is still good till Dec. 26th....Regardless, of means of take.
2021 General Season
General bear season
opens concurrently with
general deer season in the A, B, C, D, X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12 deer hunting zones and extends through December 26, 2021. For those portions of zones X1, X2, X3a, X4, X6a, X6b, X7a, and X7b open to bear hunting, the general bear season begins October 9, 2021, and extends through December 26, 2021.
General bear season
closes on December 26, 2021,
or earlier, if the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been reported taken. This includes bears harvested during the archery season.