PA Bear Harvest Way Down
 

Well, there's still some extended seasons running... But the statewide harvest is way down compared to the past decade. My guess is the nasty weather Saturday kept allot of people out of the woods. I put full day in Saturday and Monday up in Clinton County then had to head for home to take care of some stuff before thanksgiving and leaving for deer camp.

Showing as 2,296 bears currently for all combined seasons statewide. That number would typically be up over 3,000

2016 was over 3,500. 2015 was 3,700. 2014 was 3,371 then, 3510, 3632, 4350, 3090,

Six bears over 600lbs and one right at 700lbs.

Hopefully that means there will be plenty running around for me next year!

-jake

Huge bear killed on I 78
 

700 lb killed by tractor trailer on I 78 in Berks county. In this mornings paper. The bear was tranquilized Adams county and it was transported to Perry Co and released,it then wound up in a tree in Leola Lancaster Co where it was tranquilized again , it weighed 550 lbs, it was transported to Dauphin Co and released on SGL 211. It wondered east and on Nov 12 it was killed on I 78 in berks county. The officer said it had gained 150 lbs since it was apprehended in Lancaster co which would make it 700 lbs. The bear was purchased from the PGC by a Berks Co hunter education instructor coodinator who is going to get it mounted. What a thrill that would have been to someone who took it in season.

I've heard rumor that possibly mange killed allot this past year as well? A couple people I talked to at the check station in Clinton county said that they didn't see near the sign that they usually see or the bears they typically see while driving.

-Jake

I was out on the first Monday on SGL 209 Pike county. No Bears in my woods. Did see some sign but not much.

HJ

that's because they have been on the NJ side bothering me

lol.................

About 2 weeks ago I was bowhunting, a sow with 2 cubs are feeding on acorns for a while, they leave, minutes later from a different direction a bigger sow with 2 cubs do the same, they leave the original three show up, this went on for 1/2 day like rotating shifts.....with 6 bears in the area no deer will show up so I call it a day I start climbing down the tree with my climber, these bears didn't care.....as I was walking away I was about 300 yards away I encounter the other 3 bears, I walked by them within 50 yards they kept a eye on me but never moved

bear come back in tomorrow in my WMU. I'm going to take my rifle for a walk and see what I can see.

In our area, bear is in this week. Our neighbor shot one. Another neighbor got one in archery. The regular season was crap but I'll bet a lot more shot this week.

We chased one out on the first Saturday. Just a small bear. Looked like we woke it up from a nap.

-Jake