My dad shot a bear onec way back when. It must have been in the late 50s or early '60s. The only problem was he wasn't the only guy shooting that day. The bear ended up getting shot by three hunters. The last guy took the bear, but I know my dad was a great shot and I think he nailed him. It just took a while to bleed out.

A Hunter this week in NY took a Black Bear that weighed over 700lbs, YES 700lbs, it's a New NYS Record.
(BP)

Breech, I believe there was a 700 lber shot in PA also. Plus a coulpe of 600+ lbers. PA & NY are growing some whoppers for sure. I even heard of a 79 yr old lady who shot one over 600 lb. (It was probably eating her apple pie she made for Thanksgiving,, )

Granted they do taste different than deer or moose. Just like me and duck's I suppose.

HA

I passed on a small guy this year in n.y.s. opening week on Tuesday he crossed my shooting lane at 40 yards in front of me.I would say he weigh about 175 lbs more like last spring Born maybe a 14 months old.I will say he was a dump little guy stared right me on the ground .

I have a Buddy who grabs the (Erie Times) I believe it's called and we look through it to see all the Whopper Bucks that are taken in PA. I did hear of some Big Black bears being taken in PA but had no clue as to how Big. A 700+ Pounder is one heck of a Big Black Bear. With Bear Season Closed for so long in our Part of the County the Bears have had it made for many Years and have grown BIG. This is the Second Year that we can Hunt Black Bears in our Part of the County and the First Year we can use Rifles for Hunting. It seems weird to be able to walk out My Door and use a Rifle or to take a Bear in My Yard with one.
My Daughter spotted one in our Woods last year, she pointed it out to me through our Kitchen Window, that was COOl to see. My Wife and I Hunt where there's a good Population of Bears and She wont let me go off and leave Her on the ground anymore while I try and push Deer to Her, some of the places we cant put tree stands up because of the lack of trees, just Thick Stuff so if there's no treestand, she's out
Most of the Guy's I Hunt with would rather have the Bears around then shoot them. But recently we were talking to some of the Game Wardens and they say that Black Bears Eat More Fawns than Coyotes do. So were changing our minds about that one.
How was your Second Day of Your PA Season Today??? Did it RAIN all day like it did here? I LOVE to Hunt and it killed Me but I did'nt Hunt today, it's just No Fun in the Pouring Rain. There not talking any Snow untill next Tuesday Dec 6th and our Gun Season ends on Dec 11th, then Late ML Season untill Dec 20th.
They sais last night that if it does'nt Snow by Dec 2nd this will be the First Time In History that it has'nt snowed by then, and we've already had the 4th Warmest November on Record, and this one may end up being the Warmest.
Wishing You the Best!
(BP)