HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that hunters kicked off the 2005 black bear season with an unprecedented first-day preliminary harvest exceeding 2,000 bears; more bears than were shot in entire bear seasons as recently as 1999.

Game Commission employees processed 2,026 black bears at the agency's check stations on the season's opening day. The 2005 first-day preliminary harvest total compares with 1,573 in 2004; 1,454 in 2003; 1,348 in 2002; and 1,812 in 2001. In 2000, when the state record three-day harvest of 3,075 was established, hunters took 1,691 bears on the opening day.

"A large harvest was anticipated if weather was favorable because fall food conditions were good and the state's bear population continues to number near 15,000," said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist. "In years when fall foods are readily available, bears tend to den later. And when weather conditions are favorable for hunters, hunter participation typically is high."

Rain and snow are forecasted for part of the bear range for the remainder of the season, which ends Nov. 23 at sunset, and may influence the harvest.

The top eight bears processed at check stations on Monday all had estimated live weights that exceeded 600 pounds. The largest was a 694-pound male taken by Charles W. Horman Jr. of Spring Mills, in Gregg Township, Centre County, at 7:35 a.m. Nov. 21. Other large bears taken included: a 657-pound male taken by Wesley J. Springman of Montgomery, in Cogan House Township, Lycoming County, at 7:15 a.m. Nov. 21; a 653-pound male taken by David J. Brocca of Pittston, in Lehman Township, Pike County, at 6:45 a.m. Nov. 21; a 653-pound male taken by Ronald H. Landis of New Holland, in Hector Township, Potter County, at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 21; and a 638-pound male taken by James R. Donahoe of Danville, in Davidson Township, Sullivan County, at 3 p.m. Nov. 21.

The preliminary first-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 2 (2 in 2004); WMU 1B, 19 (17); WMU 2A, 3 (0); WMU 2C, 183 (129); WMU 2D, 60 (61); WMU 2E, 62 (46); WMU 2F, 162 (128); WMU 2G, 506 (380); WMU 3A, 159 (98); WMU 3B, 204 (174); WMU 3C, 75 (52); WMU 3D, 175 (146); WMU 4A, 84 (32); WMU 4B, 25 (17); WMU 4C, 71 (89); WMU 4D, 195 (173); WMU 4E, 40 (27); and WMU 5C, 1 (1).

The top bear harvest county in the state after the first day was Lycoming with 159, followed by Clinton, 127; Tioga 126; Potter, 108; and Cameron, 91.

County harvests by region for the opening day, followed by the opening day 2004 preliminary harvest in parentheses, are:

Northwest: Warren, 52 (32); Forest, 47 (41); Jefferson, 44 (28); Clarion, 18 (18); Venango, 17 (15); Butler, 3 (3); Crawford, 1 (3); and Mercer, 1 (0).

Southwest: Somerset, 65 (40); Fayette, 40 (35); Indiana, 38 (37); Westmoreland, 25 (30); Cambria, 16 (14); and Armstrong, 11 (26).

Northcentral: Lycoming, 159 (147); Clinton, 127 (131); Tioga, 126 (77); Potter 108 (43); Cameron, 91 (66); McKean, 87 (58); Clearfield, 85 (55); Centre, 83 (58); Elk, 68 (46); and Union, 26 (18).

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 73 (56); Bedford, 55 (17); Blair, 27 (17); Mifflin, 19 (16); Fulton, 11 (5); Juniata, 9 (9); Snyder, 9 (11); Franklin, 5 (2); and Perry, 4 (1).

Northeast: Pike, 70 (62); Sullivan, 64 (32); Monroe, 54 (27); Luzerne, 50 (38); Wayne, 45 (29); Bradford, 35 (56); Susquehanna, 35 (21); Carbon, 28 (38); Columbia, 23 (25); Lackawanna, 14 (17); Wyoming, 13 (19); and Northumberland, 1 (4).

Southeast: Schuylkill, 21 (18); Dauphin, 13 (18); Berks, 4 (1); Lebanon, 4 (8); and Lehigh, 2 (2).

# # #