Pennsylvania’s three-day black bear season literally started with a bang Monday.
Hunters were as successful as they have ever been, bagging 1,897 bears, up about 10 percent from 1,725 last year and 89 percent from 1,005 in 2007.
But bear kills were actually down in the Valley. Three fewer bears — 37 — were taken Monday than on opening day in 2008.
Coming on the heels of the state’s two-day archery bear season — Nov. 18-19 — the three-day bear season runs just before the firearms deer season, which begins Monday.
Not only were bears taken in large numbers, trophy bears were taken in nearly every corner of the state.
The top 10 bears processed at check stations on Monday all had estimated live weights that exceeded 550 pounds.
Terence Burkhardt, of Jim Thorpe, harvested the largest bear, a 654-pound male taken in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County.
“Because our bear population (near 15,000) now covers more than three-quarters of the state — and includes a number of world-class trophy bears — Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the top states for bear hunters,” said Carl Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Every year, we have a number of bears exceeding 500 pounds included in the harvest.”
Another 654-pound male was also killed in Penn Forest Township on Monday, and three other 600-pound bears were taken around the state.
In Union County, there were 21 kills Monday, down from 22 on the opening day last year, while 14 were harvested in Snyder Country, down from 17 in 2007. Two black bears were killed in Northumberland County, up from one last year.
According to the Game Commission, more black bears have been killed statewide since 2000 than in any other decade since records were first kept in 1915.
“Our black bear population is a remarkable resource,” said commission black bear biologist Mark Ternent. “Every year since 2000, more than 100,000 hunters have headed afield in pursuit of bears, with harvests exceeding 3,000 most years, yet many local bear populations have remained stable or increased.
“It’s a good time to be a bear hunter.”
Nearby Clinton and Lycoming counties have large numbers of bears harvested every year, and they are off to a fast start again. More than 250 bears were taken in Lycoming County a year ago, the second most in the state.
On Monday, 153 bears were taken in Lycoming, up from 135 on last year’s opening day, while there were nearly three times as many kills in Clinton this year, 152, as last year, 55.
News
Related Photos
-
Photo provided/Game Commission
Discussion
Bear hunters have opening day success
- News
-
-
Firefighter union may char pacts
LEWISBURG — Paid members of the William Cameron Engine Company have voted to unionize under the International Association of Fire Fighters, a move believed to stem from internal tension between paid and volunteer members of the department, according to various sources.
-
M-W rule on drug testing is area’s boldest
MIDDLEBURG — Midd-West is the only school district in the Central Susquehanna Valley that requires students interested in participating in extra-curricular activities to agree to submit to random drug testing.
-
New shelter exec gets busy
When Cathy Teisher stepped down as executive director of Haven Ministries, in March, Pamela Steffen stepped up.
-
Tax boost could bring $120G pad
The Lewisburg Area School District will seek a 3.2 percent real estate tax increase for the 2012-13 school year, the maximum allowed under the index, under a proposed budget now available for public comment.
-
Fire has burned beneath Centralia for 50 years
CENTRALIA — Fifty years ago on Sunday, a fire at the town dump ignited an exposed coal seam, setting off a chain of events that eventually led to the demolition of nearly every building in Centralia — a whole community of 1,400 simply gone.
-
'To Do': Montandon Community Days
MONTANDON - Montandon Community Days will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 26 along Railroad Street.
-
California’s Coronado named nation’s best beach
CORONADO, Calif. (AP) — Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.
That’s one of the reasons why Coronado — flanked by the iconic hotel featured in Marilyn Monroe’s 1958 film “Some Like It Hot” — has been named the No. 1 beach in the United States in the 2012 survey by “Dr. Beach” professor Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University. -
Typical CEO made $9.6M last year, AP study finds
Profits at big U.S. companies broke records last year, and so did pay for CEOs.
-
Barnstorming cattle badger citizens for beer
BOXFORD, Mass. (AP) — Police say a roving group of cows crashed a small gathering in a Massachusetts town and bullied the guests for their beer.
-
'A Day in Towne' tradition draws crowds to Boalsburg
May 25--For the 148th year, Boalsburg will be the gathering place for regional families to remember all ranks of Armed Forces veterans.
-
Fired Pa. president gets more time to clear office
CALIFORNIA, Pa. (AP) — A judge has canceled a hearing to determine whether California University of Pennsylvania president Angelo Armenti can remove his personal property from his former office, because state officials have given him more time to do so.
- Weird crime of the week: Peddler in pickup scams bargain-hunting meat seeker
- More News Headlines
-
Firefighter union may char pacts
