HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission bear check stations recorded a preliminary harvest of 2,004 bears during the recently completed three-day season (Nov. 19-21), and an additional 23 bears during the two-day archery bear harvest (Nov. 14-15).
So far, the total bear harvest of 2,027 for the two seasons preliminarily ranks as the 11th highest statewide harvest. However, Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist, noted that with the extended bear season in certain Wildlife Management Units continuing through Dec. 1, the total preliminary harvest will increase.
Last year, hunters harvested 3,122 bears during all three seasons, which is the second highest harvest in Pennsylvania history. The current record was set in 2005, when hunters harvested 4,164 bears in three seasons.
Preliminary total bear harvest figures – including the ongoing extended bear seasons that end Dec. 1 – are expected by Dec. 5. Official total bear harvest figures for all three seasons won’t be available until early 2008, after a thorough review of all bear harvest reports.
The preliminary three-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 7 (12 in 2006); WMU 1B, 29 (37); WMU 2A, 1 (0); WMU 2C, 217 (253); WMU 2D, 91 (98); WMU 2E, 49 (97); WMU 2F, 223 (203); WMU 2G, 525 (680); WMU 3A, 177 (225); WMU 3B, 113 (208); WMU 3C, 49 (90); WMU 3D, 126 (120); WMU 4A, 98 (114); WMU 4B, 41 (32); WMU 4C, 54 (69); WMU 4D, 180 (281); and WMU 4E, 24 (34).
County harvests by region for the three-day season, followed by the three-day 2006 preliminary harvests in parentheses, are:
Northwest: Warren, 71 (78); Forest, 55 (46); Venango, 39 (42); Jefferson, 38 (28); Clarion, 24 (36); Butler, 9 (10); Crawford, 4 (5); and Erie, 2 (2).
Southwest: Somerset, 79 (122); Fayette, 67 (59); Armstrong, 41 (31); Westmoreland, 37 (22); Indiana, 30 (46); and Cambria, 10 (13).
Northcentral: Clinton, 158 (213); Lycoming, 123 (196); Tioga, 118 (142); Cameron, 116 (67); McKean, 100 (129); Potter 100 (180); Clearfield, 80 (130); Elk, 61 (83); Centre, 58 (92); and Union, 27 (40).
Southcentral: Huntingdon, 70 (95); Bedford, 60 (72); Blair, 34 (36); Mifflin, 20 (42); Snyder, 19 (15); Juniata, 14 (14); Fulton, 8 (16); Perry, 6 (8); and Franklin, 2 (4).
Northeast: Pike, 59 (48); Bradford, 38 (33); Luzerne, 35 (46); Carbon, 28 (21); Wayne, 25 (56); Sullivan, 22 (67); Columbia, 20 (17); Monroe, 19 (30); Susquehanna, 19 (38); Lackawanna, 18 (13); Wyoming, 10 (24); and Northumberland, 2 (4).
Southeast: Schuylkill, 14 (14); Dauphin, 6 (13); Lebanon, 6 (8); and Northampton 2 (0).
The two-day archery season harvest by WMU (with 2006 figures in parenthesis) was: WMU 2C, 12 (9); WMU 2D, 1 (3); WMU 2G, 3 (32); WMU 3A, 2 (8); WMU 4A, 2 (2); WMU 4B, 1 (0); and WMU 4D, 2 (15).
County harvests for the two-day archery season (with 2006 figures in parenthesis) by region was:
Southwest: Fayette, 5 (3); Somerset, 3 (1); Westmoreland, 3 (0); and Armstrong, 1 (0).
Northcentral: Clinton, 2 (12); Potter, 2 (7); Centre, 1 (8); and Cameron, 1 (1).
Southcentral: Huntingdon, 2 (4); Beford, 1 (0); Blair, 1 (2); and Mifflin, 1 (2).
So far, the top 10 bears processed by Game Commission personnel through the archery and statewide seasons 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 676-pound male taken by Albert Smith, of Nazareth, in Greene Township, Pike County, at 3 p.m. on Nov. 20; 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 610-pound male taken by Craig Zaman, of Hollsopple, in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, at 1 p.m. on Nov. 15; 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 592-pound male taken by Lanny Long of Six Mile Run, in Carbon Township, Huntingdon County, at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 20; a 592-pound male taken by Jonas Glick, of Lewistown, in Bratton Township, Mifflin County, at 11:50 a.m. on Nov. 21; and a 590-pound male taken by Lavon Martin, of Fleetwood, in Toboyne Township, Perry County, at 10:44 a.m. on Nov. 19.