BEAR HARVEST CONTINUES TO BE SLOW

BEAR HARVEST CONTINUES TO BE SLOW - Printable Version

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BEAR HARVEST CONTINUES TO BE SLOW - FishNews - 12-01-2007

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 
2005, when the state record bear harvest was set, agency personnel processed 
2,875 bears on the first two days of season; 2,262 in 2004; 2,299 in 2003; 
and 2,022 in 2002.

These harvest numbers do not include the results of the state's archery bear 
hunt, which was held in certain Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) on Nov. 14 
and 15. Those results will be available on Nov. 28.

"The statewide two-day bear harvest continues to be slow, but large bears 
are being taken and favorable hunting weather remains in the forecast for 
the last day of season," said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist.

Beginning on Monday, Nov. 26, through Saturday, Dec. 1, deer hunters who 
possess a valid bear license may participate in the extended bear season in 
WMU 3C, portions of 3B, 4E, and 2G. In WMU 3D, an extended bear season will 
run from Wednesday, Nov. 28, to Saturday, Dec. 1. For more information on 
those areas opened during the extended bear season, refer to pages 39-41 of 
the 2007-08 Hunting & Trapping Digest, which is provided to each license 
buyer.

Bear licenses must be purchased at any issuing agent prior to the opening 
day of the regular deer firearms season, Nov. 26, including through "The 
Outdoor Shop" on the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). If purchased 
through "The Outdoor Shop," license buyers will be provided a web order 
number that they will be instructed to write on their general hunting 
license in the appropriate box and sign; there will be no need to wait for 
anything to be sent in the mail.

So far, the top 10 bears processed at check stations through Tuesday all had 
estimated live weights that exceeded 500 pounds. Rodney Howard, of Port 
Allegany, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at 
712-pound (estimated live weight). The bear was taken in Roulette Township, 
Potter County, at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Other large bears included: a 628-pound male taken by Robert Heckman, of 
Quakake, in Rush Township, Schuylkill County, at 8 a.m. on Nov. 20; a 
617-pound male taken by Thomas Oliver, of Palmyra, in Elk Township, Tioga 
County, at 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 19; a 604-pound male taken by Terrance T. 
Brent, of Conneaut, Ohio, in Lumber Township, Cameron County at 10:30 a.m. 
Nov. 20; a 604-pound male taken by Daniel Buric, of Hunker, in Derry 
Township, Westmoreland County, at 3 p.m. Nov. 19; a 590-pound male taken by 
Lavon Martin, of Fleetwood, in Toboyne Township, Perry County, at 10:44 a.m. 
on Nov. 19; and a 587-pound male taken by Randall Lockwood, of Brookville, 
in Warsaw Township, Jefferson County, at 11 a.m. on Nov. 19.

The preliminary two-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as 
follows: WMU 1A, 7 (11 in 2006); WMU 1B, 23 (31); WMU 2A, 1 (0); WMU 2C, 188 
(205); WMU 2D, 75 (79); WMU 2E, 44 (74); WMU 2F, 197 (178); WMU 2G, 458 
(583); WMU 3A, 139 (205); WMU 3B, 97 (180); WMU 3C, 35 (70); WMU 3D, 87 
(108); WMU 4A, 80 (108); WMU 4B, 30 (26); WMU 4C, 36 (62); WMU 4D, 127 
(237); and WMU 4E, 14 (28).

The top bear harvest county in the state after the first two days was 
Clinton with 142, followed by Tioga, 102; Cameron, 98; Lycoming, 97; and 
Potter, 87.

County harvests by region for the first two days, followed by the two-day 
2006 preliminary harvests in parentheses, are:

Northwest: Warren, 67 (68); Forest, 50 (44); Jefferson, 33 (23); Venango, 28 
(37); Clarion, 17 (32); Butler, 8 (9); Crawford, 2 (4); and Erie, 2 (1).

Southwest: Somerset, 72 (105); Fayette, 56 (49); Indiana, 26 (36); 
Armstrong, 35 (21); Westmoreland, 32 (17); and Cambria, 8 (9).

Northcentral: Clinton, 142 (177); Tioga, 102 (123); Cameron, 98 (60); 
Lycoming, 97 (161); Potter 87 (158); McKean, 80 (117); Clearfield, 70 (107); 
Elk, 55 (74); Centre, 43 (79); and Union, 19 (35).

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 53 (86); Bedford, 52 (58); Blair, 25 (31); 
Juniata, 12 (9); Snyder, 12 (12); Mifflin, 11 (33); Fulton, 6 (16); Perry, 5 
(8); and Franklin, 1(4).

Northeast: Pike, 42 (42); Bradford, 28 (30); Luzerne, 22 (40); Sullivan, 20 
(59); Wayne, 19 (44); Carbon, 17 (20); Susquehanna, 15 (31); Columbia, 14 
(16); Monroe, 11 (28); Lackawanna, 10 (12); Wyoming, 8 (23); and 
Northumberland, 2 (2).

Southeast: Schuylkill, 9 (12); Dauphin, 6 (11); Lebanon, 6 (6); and 
Northampton, 3 (0).

Facts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: In 1980, Pennsylvania's bear 
population was estimated to be 4,500. Today, the bear population estimate 
is about 15,000.