Hunting bears in PA is about 30% skill and 70% luck. The skill portion is only finding an area with good sign/habitat. Best thing I could suggest is to scout the area really well. Bears like the swampy areas, so that is a good spot, they also like the laurel for good cover, with it surrounded by hardwoods another plus to your area. I would say, scout the hardwoods and look for the food, acorns, beechnuts etc., look for signs of feeding, once you find that, look for the trails back into the swamp cover, best thing is look for the crap piles, the more you find the better, shows higher activity in the area. If you find a spot like this drop back into the cover and find a spot that gives you the best view of the area, keeping in mind the wind. Bears have an excellent sense of smell, vision is poorer, but if they smell you, forget it they will never give you a shot. One thing to remember, like the previous post said, they will travel alot for food in the fall, so just because they are there the first week in November, doesn' t mean they are still there come bear season. Best case would be to find several spot with good sign and food sources and then check back right before the season and see which ones have the fresh bear sign and thats where you hunt.

Keep in mind, that alot of hunters in PA will get together and drive for bear, so that gets them moving around some. When pushed they may run for miles, but they usually head for areas of cover, where they think they will be safe, so even if your area has old bear sign, it may be an area they will head to if pushed by other hunters, so stay put all day, watch you scent and keep alert.

Note I can swear by: If a bear is running thru the woods towards you, you will know it. Imagine how much noise you would make, running thru a thicket with all your hunting gear and thats what a bear sounds like running thu the woods, you can definetely hear them coming.

Good luck. Email me if you have any further questions. Help if i can.