HARRISBURG - Hunters shot a new state record 4,123 black bears in the state's recently concluded bear season, according to the preliminary reports by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The statewide three-day bear season, which ran Nov. 21-23, saw a record 3,331 bears harvested.  The extended bear season in five Wildlife Management Units and the Rockview State Correctional Institution in Centre County, which ran Nov. 28- Dec. 3, added an additional 794 bears, bringing the new state record to 4,123.

"We will be closely examining the harvest data once a complete review is conducted by our bear biologist, Mark Ternent," said Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director.  "We will be working to determine the harvest rate this season, so that we can finalize our 2006 bear season recommendations for the Board of Game Commissioners to consider at its upcoming meeting in January.

"This harvest greatly exceeded our expectations, but is a testament to the size, reproductive success and range our of bear population."

DuBrock also noted that the agency will issue an official bear harvest report once all bear harvest reports are reviewed.

In 2004, agency employees processed 2,423 black bears on the first three days, and the final harvest was 2,972 bears, including those bears taken in the extended season that ran concurrently with the first week of the deer firearms season.  In 2003, agency personnel processed 2,812 bears over the season's first three days, and the final harvest was 3,000 bears, including those taken in the extended season. 

In 2001, the last time the state had a single three-day season, the total bear harvest was 3,063. In 2000, when the previous state record bear harvest was set, the three-day total was 3,075.

At the conclusion of the 2005 bear season, Andrew Seman Jr. of Dunbar had taken the largest bear: a 733-pound male. The bear was shot in Dunbar Township, Fayette County, at 3 p.m. on Nov. 22. The Game Commission incorrectly reported that a 747-pound male was taken in Grugan Township, Clinton County, on the Nov. 22.

To date, hunters have taken 17 bears statewide that have had estimated live weights of 600 pounds or more.

The three-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 9; WMU 1B, 37; WMU 2A, 4; WMU 2C, 311; WMU 2D, 127; WMU 2E, 115; WMU 2F, 258; WMU 2G, 908; WMU 3A, 288; WMU 3B, 535; WMU 3C, 293; WMU 3D, 385; WMU 4A, 147; WMU 4B, 41; WMU 4C, 200; WMU 4D, 307; WMU 4E, 157; and WMU 5A, 1.

After three days, Lycoming County led all counties with a harvest of 312 bears, followed by: Tioga, 241; Clinton County, 227; Potter, 213; and Cameron, 172.

County bear harvests by region are as follows:

Northwest - Warren, 78; Forest, 67; Jefferson, 62; Venango, 38; Clarion, 30; Butler, 10; Crawford, 10; and Mercer, 4.

Southwest - Somerset, 108; Fayette, 75; Indiana, 65; Westmoreland, 45; Armstrong, 33; and Cambria, 30.

Northcentral - Lycoming, 312; Tioga, 241; Clinton, 227; Potter, 213; Cameron, 172; Clearfield, 159; Centre, 149; McKean, 146; Elk, 112; and Union, 34.

Southcentral - Huntingdon, 127; Bedford, 94; Blair, 44; Mifflin, 29; Fulton, 21; Snyder, 13; Juniata, 11; Perry, 7; and Franklin, 6.

Northeast - Pike, 158; Bradford, 154; Wayne, 154; Luzerne, 137; Sullivan, 132; Susquehanna, 114; Monroe, 103; Columbia, 80; Carbon, 73; Wyoming, 65; Lackawanna, 34; Northumberland, 14; and Montour, 4.

Southeast - Schuylkill, 66; Dauphin, 38; Berks, 10; Lebanon, 5; Lehigh, 6; and Northampton, 4.

#    #    #