12-01-2007, 12:10 AM
But more 600-pounders taken by hunters
HARRISBURG - Two days of bear hunting have produced a preliminary harvest of
1,638 bears, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission reports.
In 2006, 2,185 bears passed through check stations the first two days. In<br />
2005, when the state record bear harvest was set, agency personnel processed<br />
2,875 bears on the first two days of season; 2,262 in 2004; 2,299 in 2003;<br />
and 2,022 in 2002.
These harvest numbers do not include the results of the state's archery bear<br />
hunt, which was held in certain Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) on Nov. 14<br />
and 15. Those results will be available on Nov. 28.
"The statewide two-day bear harvest continues to be slow, but large bears<br />
are being taken and favorable hunting weather remains in the forecast for<br />
the last day of season," said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist.
Beginning on Monday, Nov. 26, through Saturday, Dec. 1, deer hunters who<br />
possess a valid bear license may participate in the extended bear season in<br />
WMU 3C, portions of 3B, 4E, and 2G. In WMU 3D, an extended bear season will<br />
run from Wednesday, Nov. 28, to Saturday, Dec. 1. For more information on<br />
those areas opened during the extended bear season, refer to pages 39-41 of<br />
the 2007-08 Hunting & Trapping Digest, which is provided to each license<br />
buyer.
Bear licenses must be purchased at any issuing agent prior to the opening<br />
day of the regular deer firearms season, Nov. 26, including through "The<br />
Outdoor Shop" on the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). If purchased<br />
through "The Outdoor Shop," license buyers will be provided a web order<br />
number that they will be instructed to write on their general hunting<br />
license in the appropriate box and sign; there will be no need to wait for<br />
anything to be sent in the mail.
So far, the top 10 bears processed at check stations through Tuesday all had<br />
estimated live weights that exceeded 500 pounds. Rodney Howard, of Port<br />
Allegany, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at<br />
712-pound (estimated live weight). The bear was taken in Roulette Township,<br />
Potter County, at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 19.
Other large bears included: a 628-pound male taken by Robert Heckman, of<br />
Quakake, in Rush Township, Schuylkill County, at 8 a.m. on Nov. 20; a<br />
617-pound male taken by Thomas Oliver, of Palmyra, in Elk Township, Tioga<br />
County, at 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 19; a 604-pound male taken by Terrance T.<br />
Brent, of Conneaut, Ohio, in Lumber Township, Cameron County at 10:30 a.m.<br />
Nov. 20; a 604-pound male taken by Daniel Buric, of Hunker, in Derry<br />
Township, Westmoreland County, at 3 p.m. Nov. 19; a 590-pound male taken by<br />
Lavon Martin, of Fleetwood, in Toboyne Township, Perry County, at 10:44 a.m.<br />
on Nov. 19; and a 587-pound male taken by Randall Lockwood, of Brookville,<br />
in Warsaw Township, Jefferson County, at 11 a.m. on Nov. 19.
The preliminary two-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as<br />
follows: WMU 1A, 7 (11 in 2006); WMU 1B, 23 (31); WMU 2A, 1 (0); WMU 2C, 188<br />
(205); WMU 2D, 75 (79); WMU 2E, 44 (74); WMU 2F, 197 (178); WMU 2G, 458<br />
(583); WMU 3A, 139 (205); WMU 3B, 97 (180); WMU 3C, 35 (70); WMU 3D, 87<br />
(108); WMU 4A, 80 (108); WMU 4B, 30 (26); WMU 4C, 36 (62); WMU 4D, 127<br />
(237); and WMU 4E, 14 (28).
The top bear harvest county in the state after the first two days was<br />
Clinton with 142, followed by Tioga, 102; Cameron, 98; Lycoming, 97; and<br />
Potter, 87.
County harvests by region for the first two days, followed by the two-day<br />
2006 preliminary harvests in parentheses, are:
Northwest: Warren, 67 (68); Forest, 50 (44); Jefferson, 33 (23); Venango, 28<br />
(37); Clarion, 17 (32); Butler, 8 (9); Crawford, 2 (4); and Erie, 2 (1).
Southwest: Somerset, 72 (105); Fayette, 56 (49); Indiana, 26 (36);<br />
Armstrong, 35 (21); Westmoreland, 32 (17); and Cambria, 8 (9).
Northcentral: Clinton, 142 (177); Tioga, 102 (123); Cameron, 98 (60);<br />
Lycoming, 97 (161); Potter 87 (158); McKean, 80 (117); Clearfield, 70 (107);<br />
Elk, 55 (74); Centre, 43 (79); and Union, 19 (35).
Southcentral: Huntingdon, 53 (86); Bedford, 52 (58); Blair, 25 (31);<br />
Juniata, 12 (9); Snyder, 12 (12); Mifflin, 11 (33); Fulton, 6 (16); Perry, 5<br />
(8); and Franklin, 1(4).
Northeast: Pike, 42 (42); Bradford, 28 (30); Luzerne, 22 (40); Sullivan, 20<br />
(59); Wayne, 19 (44); Carbon, 17 (20); Susquehanna, 15 (31); Columbia, 14<br />
(16); Monroe, 11 (28); Lackawanna, 10 (12); Wyoming, 8 (23); and<br />
Northumberland, 2 (2).
Southeast: Schuylkill, 9 (12); Dauphin, 6 (11); Lebanon, 6 (6); and<br />
Northampton, 3 (0).
Facts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: In 1980, Pennsylvania's bear<br />
population was estimated to be 4,500. Today, the bear population estimate<br />
is about 15,000.
HARRISBURG - Two days of bear hunting have produced a preliminary harvest of
1,638 bears, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission reports.
In 2006, 2,185 bears passed through check stations the first two days. In<br />
2005, when the state record bear harvest was set, agency personnel processed<br />
2,875 bears on the first two days of season; 2,262 in 2004; 2,299 in 2003;<br />
and 2,022 in 2002.
These harvest numbers do not include the results of the state's archery bear<br />
hunt, which was held in certain Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) on Nov. 14<br />
and 15. Those results will be available on Nov. 28.
"The statewide two-day bear harvest continues to be slow, but large bears<br />
are being taken and favorable hunting weather remains in the forecast for<br />
the last day of season," said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist.
Beginning on Monday, Nov. 26, through Saturday, Dec. 1, deer hunters who<br />
possess a valid bear license may participate in the extended bear season in<br />
WMU 3C, portions of 3B, 4E, and 2G. In WMU 3D, an extended bear season will<br />
run from Wednesday, Nov. 28, to Saturday, Dec. 1. For more information on<br />
those areas opened during the extended bear season, refer to pages 39-41 of<br />
the 2007-08 Hunting & Trapping Digest, which is provided to each license<br />
buyer.
Bear licenses must be purchased at any issuing agent prior to the opening<br />
day of the regular deer firearms season, Nov. 26, including through "The<br />
Outdoor Shop" on the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). If purchased<br />
through "The Outdoor Shop," license buyers will be provided a web order<br />
number that they will be instructed to write on their general hunting<br />
license in the appropriate box and sign; there will be no need to wait for<br />
anything to be sent in the mail.
So far, the top 10 bears processed at check stations through Tuesday all had<br />
estimated live weights that exceeded 500 pounds. Rodney Howard, of Port<br />
Allegany, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at<br />
712-pound (estimated live weight). The bear was taken in Roulette Township,<br />
Potter County, at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 19.
Other large bears included: a 628-pound male taken by Robert Heckman, of<br />
Quakake, in Rush Township, Schuylkill County, at 8 a.m. on Nov. 20; a<br />
617-pound male taken by Thomas Oliver, of Palmyra, in Elk Township, Tioga<br />
County, at 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 19; a 604-pound male taken by Terrance T.<br />
Brent, of Conneaut, Ohio, in Lumber Township, Cameron County at 10:30 a.m.<br />
Nov. 20; a 604-pound male taken by Daniel Buric, of Hunker, in Derry<br />
Township, Westmoreland County, at 3 p.m. Nov. 19; a 590-pound male taken by<br />
Lavon Martin, of Fleetwood, in Toboyne Township, Perry County, at 10:44 a.m.<br />
on Nov. 19; and a 587-pound male taken by Randall Lockwood, of Brookville,<br />
in Warsaw Township, Jefferson County, at 11 a.m. on Nov. 19.
The preliminary two-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as<br />
follows: WMU 1A, 7 (11 in 2006); WMU 1B, 23 (31); WMU 2A, 1 (0); WMU 2C, 188<br />
(205); WMU 2D, 75 (79); WMU 2E, 44 (74); WMU 2F, 197 (178); WMU 2G, 458<br />
(583); WMU 3A, 139 (205); WMU 3B, 97 (180); WMU 3C, 35 (70); WMU 3D, 87<br />
(108); WMU 4A, 80 (108); WMU 4B, 30 (26); WMU 4C, 36 (62); WMU 4D, 127<br />
(237); and WMU 4E, 14 (28).
The top bear harvest county in the state after the first two days was<br />
Clinton with 142, followed by Tioga, 102; Cameron, 98; Lycoming, 97; and<br />
Potter, 87.
County harvests by region for the first two days, followed by the two-day<br />
2006 preliminary harvests in parentheses, are:
Northwest: Warren, 67 (68); Forest, 50 (44); Jefferson, 33 (23); Venango, 28<br />
(37); Clarion, 17 (32); Butler, 8 (9); Crawford, 2 (4); and Erie, 2 (1).
Southwest: Somerset, 72 (105); Fayette, 56 (49); Indiana, 26 (36);<br />
Armstrong, 35 (21); Westmoreland, 32 (17); and Cambria, 8 (9).
Northcentral: Clinton, 142 (177); Tioga, 102 (123); Cameron, 98 (60);<br />
Lycoming, 97 (161); Potter 87 (158); McKean, 80 (117); Clearfield, 70 (107);<br />
Elk, 55 (74); Centre, 43 (79); and Union, 19 (35).
Southcentral: Huntingdon, 53 (86); Bedford, 52 (58); Blair, 25 (31);<br />
Juniata, 12 (9); Snyder, 12 (12); Mifflin, 11 (33); Fulton, 6 (16); Perry, 5<br />
(8); and Franklin, 1(4).
Northeast: Pike, 42 (42); Bradford, 28 (30); Luzerne, 22 (40); Sullivan, 20<br />
(59); Wayne, 19 (44); Carbon, 17 (20); Susquehanna, 15 (31); Columbia, 14<br />
(16); Monroe, 11 (28); Lackawanna, 10 (12); Wyoming, 8 (23); and<br />
Northumberland, 2 (2).
Southeast: Schuylkill, 9 (12); Dauphin, 6 (11); Lebanon, 6 (6); and<br />
Northampton, 3 (0).
Facts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: In 1980, Pennsylvania's bear<br />
population was estimated to be 4,500. Today, the bear population estimate<br />
is about 15,000.