HARRISBURG - A thriving black bear population with world-class trophy
bears awaits hunters preparing to head afield for state's upcoming black
bear hunting seasons, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
"Over the past two years, more than 7,200 black bears have been taken by
hunters in Pennsylvania," said Game Commission Executive Director Carl
Roe. "It's a remarkable two-year run by hunters that speaks volumes
about the enormity and stability of our bear resource. Pennsylvania has
been supporting a black bear population of roughly 15,000 since 2000 and
the state's reputation for producing some of North America's largest
black bears is now drawing hunters from throughout the continent.
"At the latest measuring session of the Boone and Crockett Club,
Pennsylvania black bears taken in the past three years placed first and
second in North America. One of those - taken by Andrew Seaman Jr. of
Dunbar in 2005 - is now tied with a bear taken in California for the
largest ever taken legally by a hunter in the world."
To appreciate Pennsylvania's bear resource, consider that its northern
neighbor, New York, which is a larger state, has a bear population that
numbers 6,000 to 7,000. States that have comparable bear harvests such
as Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, also are substantially larger in
size and offer more liberal taking opportunities - baiting, use of dogs,
much longer seasons - but have fewer hunters or limit participation.
Pennsylvania's season deploys about 100,000 hunters, who are limited to
stalking or standing for bears, during its three-day season. It's
fast-paced and often tough going, but the excitement and rewards are
incredibly fulfilling. Bear hunters know. It's why they go.
Pennsylvania's principal bear season is a three-day sprint - Nov. 19-21,
the three days preceding Thanksgiving - that draws about 100,000 hunters
annually. Pennsylvania also holds a bear archery season - Nov. 14 and 15
- in Wildlife Management Units 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D. An
extended bear season also will be held in WMU 3C, portions of 3B, 4E,
and 2G and on the Rockview Prison grounds (with advanced permission),
from Nov. 26 to Dec. 1. In WMU 3D, an extended season will run Nov. 28
to Dec. 1.
"Our substantial annual harvests are testament to the proficiency of
Pennsylvania's bear hunters and the resiliency of our black bear
population," Roe emphasized. "The stability of our bear population is
closely related to the widespread availability of habitat and good
reproduction. We also have a large monitoring program to ensure problems
don't develop."
The largest black bear killed in 2006 was a 693-pound male taken in
Potter County's West Branch Township by John Eppinette, of Adamstown, on
Nov. 20, the first day of the three-day bear season. In 2005, Seaman
took his record-tying black bear, a 733-pound male. It came from Fayette
County's Dunbar Township and had a skull measurement of 23 and 3/16
inches.
Following Seaman's bear as the second-best in the Boone and Crockett
Club's 26th Big Game Awards (trophies accepted from Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec.
31, 2006) was an 834-pound male taken late in the day by then
17-year-old Jeremy B. Kresge of Blakeslee on Nov. 23, 2004, in
Tunkhannock Township, Monroe County. It had a skull measurement of 22
and 15/16 inches. Two bears from Wisconsin rounded out the top four in
the awards program.
"From what we've seen, Pennsylvania does produce the biggest black bears
in North America," said Ryan Hatfield, assistant director for the Boone
and Crockett Club's Big Game Records department. "Five of the 'top ten'
hunter-taken black bears ever recorded by Boone and Crockett come from
Pennsylvania."
Mark Ternent, Game Commission black bear biologist, said the potential
is always there to take a bear weighing up to 800 pounds in
Pennsylvania.
"Over the past four years, four bears exceeding 800 pounds were taken by
hunters," Ternent said. "On average, 60 hunters a year take a bear 500
pounds or larger. Last year, 11bears weighing 600 pounds or more were
taken."
Big bears can be found almost anywhere in the state where there is good
habitat and a bear has a chance to avoid hunters. Counties that were
once considered peripheral areas for bears now have established
populations and shouldn't be overlooked by hunters seeking big bears.
These areas often have limited hunting pressure and provide agricultural
foods big woods bears don't have.
The state's seven largest black bear harvests - all more than 2,600 -
have occurred over the past seven years. Prior to 1983, the state's
annual bear harvests never exceeded 1,000.
Bear populations have substantially increased in size and distribution
over the past two decades. As a result, hunting seasons are longer,
hunter success is greater and bears are consistently being harvested
from a greater area than during the 1980s.
"This year, we again anticipate a harvest around 3,000 - maybe slightly
more if weather is ideal foe hunting - in the upcoming seasons," Ternent
said. "Over the past seven years, more than 22,000 black bears have
been taken by hunters in Pennsylvania.
"The availability of fall foods will influence bear activity.
Preliminary results of the agency's annual fall foods survey indicate
the white and chestnut oak acorns are above average, but that the yield
of red oaks is below normal. Beechnuts are rated average to poor. Gypsy
moth defoliation and below-average rainfall also appear to have affected
the distribution of food, and, in some areas, prompted premature
ripening and nut-drop."
Hunters planning to head afield for bears this fall should spend some
time in coming weeks to find areas where food supplies are abundant and
to locate areas that provide dense cover - mountain laurel thickets,
hemlock stands, blow-downs. Both places will attract bears, and the best
hunting areas will be where both occur together. Areas that harbor bears
typically are well-marked with droppings, active trails with tracks and
evidence of feeding, such as bent or broken branches at head height, or
claw marks on trees.
"Black bear hunting opportunities should be good to excellent in
Pennsylvania for the upcoming seasons," Ternent said. "Bear population
levels should be comparable to last year over most of Pennsylvania's
bear range. The exception may be in parts of the Northeast, where the
agency has been working to reduce local bear populations to address
bear/human conflicts through the use of an extended season."
Last year, bears were taken in 52 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. A
majority of the bears -2,569 - were taken in the three-day season before
Thanksgiving. Bear hunters afield in WMUs where the extended bear season
runs concurrently with the first week of deer season took 474 bears. An
additional 79 bears were taken in the state's first-ever archery bear
season.
Bears were taken in all but six of the state's 22 WMUs in 2006. Harvests
by WMU, including 2005's harvest results in parentheses, were: WMU 1A,
12 (9); WMU 1B, 37 (37); WMU 2C, 267 (313); WMU 2D, 101 (127); WMU 2E,
101 (115); WMU 2F, 206 (259); WMU 2G, 724 (908); WMU 3A, 242 (289); WMU
3B, 372 (542); WMU 3C, 245 (303); WMU 3D, 224 (394); WMU 4A, 116 (148);
WMU 4B, 32 (41); WMU 4C, 70 (202); WMU 4D, 299 (309); and WMU 4E, 74
(160).
If you're just looking for a bear in the upcoming seasons, key on areas
with good acorn crops and then scout for bear sign. Don't overlook
pockets of thick cover - mountain laurel patches, swamps, regenerating
clear-cuts - in areas where hunting pressure is substantial. In areas
where there are fewer hunters, try to position yourself between feeding
and resting areas, early and late in the day, and still hunt thickets
during late morning and early afternoon hours. Using drives for bears is
a time-proven method for taking bears in Pennsylvania. Hunting parties
cannot exceed 25 persons.
Bear licenses may be purchased at any issuing agent, including on the
agency's website -
www.pgc.state.pa.us - via "The Outdoor Shop," prior
to the opening day of the regular deer firearms season, Nov. 27. 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.
Facts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: In 1915, the Game
Commission established the first bear bag limit: one per person. Before
this, the bag was unlimited.
