Pa Bear Season 2014

Today is the opener of the Pa rifle Bear Season.  I hope everyone has a great day hunting black bear.  Last year hunters harvested some really big mature bears, I'm hoping for another great year.  Shoot straight and be safe. You can check the County harvested, Age and Weight of all bears taken in 2013 by clicking here

PA 2012 FINAL BEAR HARVEST RANKS THIRD OVERALL

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that the final bear harvest results from the state’s recently concluded seasons show that hunters harvested 3,632 bears, which ranks as the third highest in Pennsylvania history.

The record bear harvest was set in 2011, when hunters took 4,350 bears. In 2005, hunters harvested 4,162 bears, which was the second highest in history.

The final harvest tallies by season are: 13 in the new, early seasons in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D; 262 bears taken during the statewide, five-day archery bear season; 2,685 bears taken during the four-day bear season, which included a Saturday-opener; and 672 bears taken during the extended bear season held in various WMUs during all or portions of the first week of the deer season.

In the 2005 bear season, hunters harvested 4,164 bears, and stood as the record harvest until 2011.

Other recent bear harvests include: 3,090 in 2010; 3,512 in 2009; 3,458 in 2008; 2,362 in 2007; 3,124 in 2006; 2,976 in 2004; 3,000 in 2003; 2,686 in 2002; 3,063 in 2001; 3,075 in 2000; 1,740 in 1999; and 2,598 in 1998.

The final bear harvests by Wildlife Management Unit (with final 2011 figures in parentheses) were: WMU 1A, 4 (13); WMU 1B, 38 (64); WMU 2B, 6 (1): WMU 2C, 268 (226); WMU 2D, 162 (150); WMU 2E, 50 (79); WMU 2F, 285 (345); WMU 2G, 829 (1,086); WMU 3A, 342 (564); WMU 3B, 279 (479); WMU 3C, 146 (299); WMU 3D, 305 (318); WMU 4A, 139 (72); WMU 4B, 84 (70); WMU 4C, 163 (148); WMU 4D, 403 (355); WMU 4E, 110 (79); WMU 5A, 1 (1); WMU 5B, 2 (0); and WMU 5C, 16 (1).

Bears were harvested in 56 of the state’s 67 counties; which also marked a record for the number of counties included. The top five bear harvest counties this year, once again, all come from the Northcentral Region: Lycoming, 341 (336 taken in 2011); Clinton, 265 (205); Tioga, 227 (381); Potter 179 (399); and Centre, 143 (129).

Final county harvests by region (with 2011 figures in parentheses) are:

Northwest: Warren, 94 (119); Clarion, 77 (47); Venango, 62 (56); Forest, 56 (90); Jefferson, 51 (45); Butler, 11 (9); Erie, 7 (7); Crawford, 6 (16); and Mercer, 1 (6).

Southwest: Somerset, 94 (75); Fayette, 79 (67); Westmoreland, 37 (24); Armstrong, 35 (66); Indiana, 24 (33); Cambria, 11 (35); and Allegheny, 4 (1).

Northcentral: Lycoming, 341 (336); Clinton, 265 (205); Tioga, 227 (381); Potter 179 (399); Centre, 143 (129); McKean, 134 (258); Clearfield, 102 (154); Union, 82 (49); Elk, 76 (153); and Cameron, 67 (100).

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 125 (73); Bedford, 86 (44); Mifflin, 62 (48); Blair, 50 (32); Juniata, 37 (33); Perry, 32 (13); Fulton, 25 (15); Franklin, 14 (13); Snyder, 14 (29); Adams, 2 (0); and Cumberland, 2 (4).

Northeast: Pike, 108 (116); Monroe, 102 (88); Luzerne, 100 (99); Bradford, 86 (126); Wayne, 73 (208); Carbon, 67 (45); Sullivan, 60 (180); Wyoming, 57 (57); Susquehanna, 41 (92); Lackawanna, 37 (25); Columbia, 36 (26); Northumberland, 26 (11); and Montour, 3 (0).

Southeast: Dauphin, 48 (46); Schuylkill, 39 (34); Northampton, 21 (4); Lehigh 3 (3); Berks, 7 (2); and Lebanon, 4 (13).

According to final reports, 45 bears weighing 500 pounds or more were legally harvested during the four seasons, and 5 bears surpassed the 600 pound mark. The top 10 bears processed at check stations all had estimated live weights that exceeded 561 pounds. Joseph A. Spano, of East Stoudsburg, has harvested the largest bear so far this season. Taken Nov. 21, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, the male bear weighed an actual live weight of 709 pounds.

Other large bears (all but one, are estimated live weights) included: a 706-pound male taken by James R. Weisbrod, of Quakertown, in Greene Township, Pike County, on Nov. 20; a 699-pound male taken by William M. Rising, of Indiana, in Hamlin Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19; a 652-pound (actual live weight) male taken by Timothy J. Moffett, of Barto, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, on Nov. 17; a 620-pound male, taken by Robert A. Pitts, of Meadville, in Roulette Township, Potter County, on Nov. 17; a 598-pound male, taken by Michael P. Intallura, of Renovo, in Noyes Township, Clinton County, on Nov. 17; 586-pound male, taken by Brian K. Stuebgen, of Renfrew, in Sergeant Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19; a 576-pound male, taken by Dana L. Landis, of Chambersburg, in Southampton Township, Bedford County, on Nov. 19; a 573-pound male taken by Michael J. Kelly, of Pittsburgh, in Harmony Township, Forest County, on Nov. 21; and a 562-pound male taken by Bryan L. Leabhart, of Dudley, in Carbon Township, Huntingdon County, on Nov. 19.

“While the Game Commission is not qualified to provide specific food safety advice, bear hunters need to be aware of the need for proper preparation of any bear meat,” said Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian. “In addition to the advice already provided on safe handling of game in the field, certain recommendations can be made. If in the course of field dressing and processing game a successful hunter encounters no abnormal odors, colors, or textures to the meat it should be safe to consume if cooked to an internal temperature of 135F for mammals, and 165F for birds as determined by a meat thermometer used according to the manufacturers recommendations.”

To Connect with Wildlife, visit the Game Commission at the following:

Website: www.pgc.state.pa.us
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PAGameComm
YouTube: www.youtube.com/pagamecommission
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaGameCommission

2012 Pa PRELIMINARY THREE-DAY BEAR HARVEST RESULTS

HARRISBURG - Three days of the statewide four-day bear season have produced a preliminary harvest of 2,442 bears, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission check station reports filed this morning.

Last year’s three-day bear harvest total was 3,023; in 2010, which offered a three-day season with a Saturday opener, the harvest total was 2,815.

The preliminary three-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 3; WMU 1B, 28; WMU 2C, 208; WMU 2D, 133; WMU 2E, 33; WMU 2F, 260; WMU 2G, 696; WMU 3A, 151; WMU 3B, 167; WMU 3C, 56; WMU 3D, 173; WMU 4A, 119; WMU 4B, 73; WMU 4C, 82; WMU 4D, 223; WMU 4E, 35; WMU 5A, 1; and WMU 5C, 1.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations, so far, all had estimated live weights that exceeded 548 pounds. James R. Weisbrod, of Quakertown, has harvested the largest bear so far this season. Taken Nov. 20 in Greene Township, Pike County, the male bear an estimated live weight of 706 pounds.

 

Other large bears (all but one, are estimated live weights) included: a 699-pound male taken by William M. Rising, of Indiana, in Hamlin Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19;

a 652-pound (actual live weight) male taken by Timothy J. Moffett, of Barto, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, on Nov. 17; a 620-pound male, taken by Robert A. Pitts, of Meadville, in Roulette Township, Potter County, on Nov. 17; a 598-pound male, taken by Michael P. Intallura, of Renovo, in Noyes Township, Clinton County, on Nov. 17; 586-pound male, taken by Brian K. Stuebgen, of Renfrew, in Sergeant Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19; a 576-pound male, taken by Dana L. Landis, of Chambersburg, in Southampton Township, Bedford County, on Nov. 19; a 562-pound male taken by Bryan L. Leabhart, of Dudley, in Carbon Township, Huntingdon County, on Nov. 19; a 559-pound male, taken by Clayton L. Dulaney, of Towanda, in Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, on Nov. 17; and a 557-pound male taken by Barry Zimmerman, of Loysville, in South West Madison Township, Perry County, on Nov. 20.

After three days of the four-day season, the top bear harvest county in the state remained Lycoming with 239. The rest of the line-up of the top five counties for bear harvests, so far, are: Clinton, 217; Tioga, 136; Potter 103; and Centre, 94.

County harvests by region for the first three days are:

 

Northwest: Warren, 84; Clarion, 65; Forest, 50; Jefferson, 48; Venango, 48; Butler, 8; Erie, 6; and Crawford, 5.

Southwest: Somerset, 75; Fayette, 64; Armstrong, 30; Westmoreland, 25; Indiana, 15; and Cambria, 10.

Northcentral: Lycoming, 239; Clinton, 217; Tioga, 136; Potter 103; Centre, 94; McKean, 86; Clearfield, 80; Elk, 70; Union, 59; and Cameron, 58.

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 85; Bedford, 69; Mifflin, 42; Blair, 33; Perry, 29; Juniata, 25; Fulton, 20; Franklin, 14; Snyder, 7; and Adams, 1.

Northeast: Pike, 66; Monroe, 57; Luzerne, 53; Wayne, 39; Bradford, 36; Sullivan, 33; Carbon, 29; Wyoming, 21; Lackawanna, 20; Columbia, 19; Susquehanna, 17; and Northumberland, 8.

Southeast: Dauphin, 24; Schuylkill, 15; Berks, 2; Northampton, 2; and Lehigh, 1.

Hunters with an unfilled bear license may participate in extended bear seasons that run concurrent with all or portions of the first week of the firearms deer season. For those deer hunters who didn’t purchase a bear license, but are headed to an area where the extended bear season is being held, they may purchase a bear license from Nov. 22 through Nov. 25.

For details about those areas open to extended bear hunting and the dates, please see pages 36 and 37 of the 2012-13 Digest. Bear check stations opened during the extended bear seasons can be found on page 38 of the 2012-13 Digest.

2012 Allegheny County Bear

The first archery season bear was taken in Allegheny County last week.  The 350 lb black bear is the first archery harvest of a bear in Allegheny County since the game commission started keeping records. 

I'm sure local Native Americans killed thousands, but to every hunter in SW Pa. it's a big deal. 

You can see the video and read the story here

Congratulation to 17 year old Aaron Hwosdow !

Bear Hunting

Apparently I have been doing it wrong..... I should be going to the Pittsburgh Mills Mall where the Krispy Kreme smell has been bringing in local black bears.

2011 FINAL BEAR HARVEST SETS NEW RECORD

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that the final bear harvest results from the state’s three recently concluded seasons show that hunters harvested 4,350 bears, which sets a new record as the highest in Pennsylvania history.

On Dec. 5, preliminary harvest of 3,968 was announced, but that figure did not include complete reports from all check stations. 

The final harvest tallies by season is: 304 bears taken during the statewide, five-day archery bear season;

3,168 bears taken during the four-day bear season, which included a Saturday-opener; and 878 bears taken during the extended bear season held in various Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) during all or portions of the first week of the deer season.

35 Yr Old Pa Black Bear

Amazing that a female bear lived to age 35 TOM VENESKY OUTDOORS The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton PA - Outdoors

I thought this was a fantastic story.  It's hard to believe this bear lived 35 seasons in the wild.  Nature is truly amazing.

2011 PA Bear hunting... Two Giants

Outdoor life has a great story regarding two giant bears that were taken this season here in Pennsylvania.

Both bears weighed over 700 pounds! I think it would be incredible to take a Pennsylvania black bear, especially with my crossbow.

I think my Parker Buck Buster 175 is up for the challenge.  Who wants to sit beside me in a ground blind and film my hunt?  Buhler, Buhler , anyone ?