Thats what I meant Clem, the State Game Lands. Like Mt. Gretna and such. Freaking sea of orange opening day rifle. You couldn't pay me to hunt opening day on any State Game Lands that I have seen in Pa. MAYBE the one up there in the Poc around White Haven. It wasn't badly crowded last couple times I hunted around there.

Of the options listed, and knowing the kind of country you're hunting in... I'd go with a marlin 336. Or if you wanted a little bit more thump I'd pick up a marlin in .45-70.
-Jake

Marlin 336 everyday of the week.

You're cherry picking by only comparing coastal NC to all of PA. I lived in western NC. Our bears averaged 150-200 pounds there. Coastal NC is a whole nother ballgame.

Funny, I just went for a walk in Mt Gretna this morning then I come on here and see you mention it. I hunt it too.

Biggest Black Bears maybe. But eastern NC would have something to say about that.

No I'm talking about a straight statewide comparison of the average size. I've seen many pics of guys from PA proudly posing with bears that don't weigh 80 lbs. I've even seen pics of them posing with what looks like yearling cubs. Don't take many of them to drop an average weight across the state.

Take a look at the 2 photos below. Found them on a simple google search for bears taken in PA. You want to guess how big those bruins are?





With the exception of the sow lying between the cubs in the bed of the truck not one of them will go 100 lbs. Whether people admit it or not for every 700+ lb bear killed in PA there are a lot of small bears taken as well and those will drop the average quick.