A SEASON OF PROMISE FOR PENNSYLVANIA BLACK BEAR HUNTERS
Last year's black bear harvest was the second highest on record, and weather permitting, the Pennsylvania Game Commission expects hunters to have similar opportunities afield in the upcoming bear seasons.
"Pennsylvania's black bear population has numbered near 15,000 for almost a decade," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "Because our bear population now covers more than three-quarters of the state - and includes a number of world-class trophy bears - Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the top states for bear hunters. Every year, we have a number of bears exceeding 500 pounds included in the harvest."
The 2008 bear harvest of 3,458 is second only to the 2005 bear harvest, in which hunters took a record 4,164 bears. Other recent harvests were: 3,075 in 2000; 3,063 in 2001; 2,686 in 2002; 3,000 in 2003; 2,972 in 2004; 3,122 in 2006; and 2,360 in 2007. Over the past nine years, hunters have taken more black bears than in any other decade since the Game Commission began keeping bear harvest records in 1915.
"Our black bear population is a remarkable resource," said Mark Ternent, Game Commission black bear biologist. "Every year since 2000, more than 100,000 hunters have headed afield in pursuit of bears, with harvests exceeding 3,000 bears most years, yet many local bear populations across the state have remained stable or increased. It's a good time to be a bear hunter."
Pennsylvania's primary bear season is three days, statewide, just prior to Thanksgiving, Nov. 23-25. There also is a two-day archery bear season - Nov. 18 and 19 - in Wildlife Management Units 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D. Additionally, concurrent with the first week of the firearms deer season, there is an extended season that is open Nov. 30-Dec. 5, in portions of WMUs 3B, 2G and 4E; and Dec. 2-5, in all of WMUs 4C, 4D, 4E, 5B and 5C. (For details, please see pages 34-36 of the 2009-10 Digest.)
For more information, as well as five other bear hunting related articles, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=177558