First-Day Bear Harvest Ranks Second

[Skunk]

First-Day Bear Harvest Ranks Second

Release #120-09, by Pennsylvania Game Commission

11/24/2009

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that hunters started the 2009 black bear season by taking a preliminary harvest of 1,897 black bears in 50 counties on the first day of the three-day statewide bear season.

The 2009 first-day preliminary harvest compares with 1,725 in 2008; 1,005 in 2007; 1,461 in 2006; 2,026 in 2005; 1,573 in 2004; 1,454 in 2003;1,348 2002; 1,812 in 2001; and 1,691 in 2000.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations on Monday all had estimated live weights that exceeded 550 pounds. Terence J. Burkhardt, of Jim Thorpe, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at 654 pounds (actual live weight). The bear was taken in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County, at 4:35 p.m.

Other large bears included: a 654-pound male (estimated live weight) also taken in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County, by Michael J. Wimmer Jr., of Jim Thorpe, at 3:30 p.m.; a 644-pound male (actual live weight) taken in Todd Township, Fulton County, by Travis L. Crouse, of Chambersburg, at 9:06 a.m.; a 610-pound male (actual live weight) taken in Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, by David T. Frey, of Harrisburg, at 8:30 a.m.; a 607-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in Lehman Township, Pike County, by Arthur Garris Jr. of Bushkill, at 7:30 a.m.; a 586-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in Porter Township, Pike County, by John T. Waters Jr., of Spring City, at 9:30 a.m.; a 570-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in Larimer Township, Somerset County, by Richard M. Smith, of Meyersdale, at 7:30 a.m.; a 557-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in Lincoln Township, Somerset County, by Kevin W. Ankney, of Somerset, at 3:30 p.m.; a 553-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in Upper Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton County, by Dawn S. Jackson, of Bangor, at 7 a.m.; and a 552-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in Decatur Township, Mifflin County, by Ethan M. Fultz, of Milroy, at 12:30 p.m.

The preliminary first-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 4 (14 in 2008); WMU 1B, 16 (40); WMU 2C, 150 (145); WMU 2D, 62 (97); WMU 2E, 50 (63); WMU 2F, 174 (152); WMU 2G, 562 (363); WMU 3A, 149 (169); WMU 3B, 139 (186); WMU 3C, 42 (42); WMU 3D, 172 (123); WMU 4A, 78 (85); WMU 4B, 26 (20); WMU 4C, 62 (41); WMU 4D, 190 (174); and WMU 4E, 21 (9).

The top bear harvest county in the state after the first day of season was Lycoming with 153 (135 in 2008), followed by Clinton, 152 (55); Tioga, 142 (124); Cameron, 115 (26); and Potter, with 95 (152).

County harvests by region for the opening day, followed by the opening day 2008 preliminary harvest in parentheses, are:

Northwest: Warren, 71 (34); Forest, 38 (38); Jefferson, 33 (33); Clarion, 28 (36); Venango, 15 (44); Butler, 7 (5); Mercer, 2 (3); and Crawford, 1 (19).

Southwest: Somerset, 47 (64); Fayette, 41 (28); Westmoreland, 38 (30); Armstrong, 22 (37); Indiana, 18 (37); and Cambria, 4 (20).

Northcentral: Lycoming, 153 (135); Clinton, 152 (55); Tioga, 142 (124); Cameron, 115 (26); Potter, 95 (152); Clearfield, 78 (67); Elk, 77 (48); McKean, 77 (95); Centre, 52 (47); and Union, 21 (22).

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 63 (67); Mifflin, 38 (27); Bedford, 32 (52); Blair, 23 (11); Juniata, 19 (11); Snyder, 14 (17); Fulton, 10 (; Perry, 6 (4); and Franklin, 2 (0).

Northeast: Pike, 78 (45); Monroe, 46 (37); Carbon, 42 (14); Sullivan, 30 (56); Bradford, 27 (33); Wayne, 27 (32); Luzerne, 23 (30); Susquehanna, 19 (11); Lackawanna, 14 (19); Wyoming, 12 (18); Columbia, 11 (6); and Northumberland, 2 (1).

Southeast: Schuylkill, 12 (18); Dauphin, 9 (5); Berks, 6 (1); Northampton, 3 (2); and Lebanon, 2 (0).

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?Q=177607&A=11

[84Jim]

Thanks for posting that Skunk.  We sure had a great season at our camp (near Benezette, 2G).  Three bears for 13 hunters.  I killed my first bear late on Tuesday after 20 seasons of bear hunting, a 133 lb. male.  We also took a 257 lb. sow, and a 66 lb. cub .  I went through the check station on Wednesday, and the numbers were higher than last year.

Went to the Benezette Hotel on Sunday to catch the Steeler game.  Sat at our table drinking beer and could see 3 bull elk in somebody's front yard.  Drove by after the game to get a closer look, and the biggest one was an 8x7.

Good luck in deer season!

Jim