Post by shootsa410 on Nov 12, 2006 14:49:08 GMT -5
Game Commission biologists expect hunters to tag between 2,500 and 3,000 black bears in the state's regular bear season Nov. 20-22.
"Although a record number of bears were taken last year, bears continue to be plentiful over a large part of the state," said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist. "The only areas where bear numbers may be down slightly are portions of northeastern Pennsylvania where extended bear hunting seasons have been held since 2002 to reduce bear populations. Elsewhere, bear populations were affected minimally by last year's large harvest and should again be near record levels."
An extended bear season will run concurrently with the first week of deer season in Wildlife Management Units 3C, 3D and portions of 3B, 4E and 2G in northeastern Pennsylvania.
"Black bear hunting opportunities are outstanding in Pennsylvania," Ternent said. "Bear license sales have been increasing steadily over the past 10 years. Last year a record 142,000 hunters purchased Pennsylvania bear licenses,"
Bear populations have also been expanding outside traditional mountainous regions.
"Greene County could make history this year as I am getting many reports of bears in the county," Greene County wildlife conservation officer Rodney Burns said. No bears have been taken by a hunter in modern times in Greene, Washington, Beaver or Allegheny counties. Last year hunters tagged bears in all but four of the state's 22 wildlife management units.
In 2005, Andrew Seman Jr. of Dunbar took a Fayette County bear on State Game Lands 51 that qualifies as a truly significant specimen. The bear weighed 733 pounds and its skull measured 23 3/16 inches, equaling a California bear as the largest black bear ever taken by a hunter in the world.
"It's possible to harvest a bear weighing up to 800 pounds in Pennsylvania; in the past three years, four such bears have been taken," Ternent said. "On average, 60 hunters a year take a bear 500 pounds or larger. Last year, 17 bears weighing 600 pounds or more were tagged."
"Although a record number of bears were taken last year, bears continue to be plentiful over a large part of the state," said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist. "The only areas where bear numbers may be down slightly are portions of northeastern Pennsylvania where extended bear hunting seasons have been held since 2002 to reduce bear populations. Elsewhere, bear populations were affected minimally by last year's large harvest and should again be near record levels."
An extended bear season will run concurrently with the first week of deer season in Wildlife Management Units 3C, 3D and portions of 3B, 4E and 2G in northeastern Pennsylvania.
"Black bear hunting opportunities are outstanding in Pennsylvania," Ternent said. "Bear license sales have been increasing steadily over the past 10 years. Last year a record 142,000 hunters purchased Pennsylvania bear licenses,"
Bear populations have also been expanding outside traditional mountainous regions.
"Greene County could make history this year as I am getting many reports of bears in the county," Greene County wildlife conservation officer Rodney Burns said. No bears have been taken by a hunter in modern times in Greene, Washington, Beaver or Allegheny counties. Last year hunters tagged bears in all but four of the state's 22 wildlife management units.
In 2005, Andrew Seman Jr. of Dunbar took a Fayette County bear on State Game Lands 51 that qualifies as a truly significant specimen. The bear weighed 733 pounds and its skull measured 23 3/16 inches, equaling a California bear as the largest black bear ever taken by a hunter in the world.
"It's possible to harvest a bear weighing up to 800 pounds in Pennsylvania; in the past three years, four such bears have been taken," Ternent said. "On average, 60 hunters a year take a bear 500 pounds or larger. Last year, 17 bears weighing 600 pounds or more were tagged."
