Pennsylvania Bear Harvest 3rd All-time

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission preliminary bear harvest figures show that 3,036 bears were taken during the recently completed three-day season (Nov. 23-25) and an additional 108 bears were harvested during the two-day archery bear harvest (Nov. 18-19).

So far, the total bear harvest of 3,144 for the two seasons preliminarily ranks as the third highest statewide harvest. However, with the extended bear season in certain Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) continuing through Dec. 5, the total preliminary harvest will increase. The two highest total bear harvests were recorded in 2005 (4,164 bears taken) and 2008 (3,458). In 2006, hunters harvested 3,122 bears during all seasons.

Preliminary total bear harvest figures – including the ongoing extended bear seasons – are expected the week of Dec. 7. Official total bear harvest figures for all three seasons won’t be available until early 2010, after a thorough review of all bear harvest reports.

County harvests by region for the three-day season, followed by the three-day 2008 preliminary harvests in parentheses, are:

Northwest: Warren, 99 (57); Forest, 58 (58); Jefferson, 56 (60);
Southwest: Somerset, 69 (98); Fayette, 68 (40); Westmoreland, 61 (35
Northcentral: Clinton, 239 (106); Lycoming, 239 (214); Cameron, 211 (72); Tioga, 203 (231);
Southcentral: Huntingdon, 83 (114); Bedford, 59 (78);
Northeast: Pike, 115 (73); Monroe, 74 (54); Southeast: Schuylkill, 22 (24);

The top 10 bears processed at check stations that were taken during the three-day statewide season all had actual or estimated live weights that exceeded 607 pounds. The largest bears so far: a male that had an estimated live weight of 707-pounds; a 655-pound male (estimated live weight); a 654-pound male (actual live weight); a 654-pound male (estimated live weight); a 644-pound male (actual live weight); a 640-pound male (estimated live weight); a 621-pound male (estimated live weight); a 612-pound male (estimated live weight); a 610-pound male (actual live weight) and a 607-pound male (estimated live weight).