Preliminary Two-day Bear Harvest Results

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two days of the statewide four-day bear season have produced a preliminary harvest of 2,086 bears, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission check station reports filed this morning.

Last year's two-day bear harvest total mirrored that of 2009, when 2,709 bears were checked by Game Commission personnel in both years.  In 2010, 2,542 bears were brought to Game Commission check stations after two days of hunting, which also included a Saturday opener. 

The preliminary two-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 2; WMU 1B, 26; WMU 2C, 182; WMU 2D, 102; WMU 2E, 27; WMU 2F, 218; WMU 2G, 592; WMU 3A, 131; WMU 3B, 143; WMU 3C, 41; WMU 3D, 144; WMU 4A, 107; WMU 4B, 62; WMU 4C, 75; WMU 4D, 200; WMU 4E, 33; and WMU 5A, 1.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations, so far, all had estimated live weights that exceeded 548 pounds. Timothy J. Moffett, of Barto, harvested the largest bear so far this season.  It was a 652-pound (actual live weight) male taken in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, on Nov. 17.

Other large bears (all estimated live weights) included: a 620-pound male, taken by Robert A. Pitts, of Meadville, in Roulette Township, Potter County, on Nov. 17; a 598-pound male, taken by Michael P. Intallura, of Renovo, in Noyes Township, Clinton County, on Nov. 17; 586-pound male, taken by Brian K. Stuebgen, of Renfrew, in Sergeant Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19; a 576-pound male, taken by Dana L. Landis, of Chambersburg, in Southampton Township, Bedford County, on Nov. 19; a 559-pound male, taken by Clayton L. Dulaney, of Towanda, in Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, on Nov. 17; a 552-pound male, taken by Randall L. Piper, of Burnt Cabins, in Dublin Township, Huntingdon County, on Nov. 19; a 551-pound male, taken by Michael T. Guenot, of Snow Shoe, in Snow Shoe Township, Centre County, on Nov. 17; a 550-pound male, taken by Brian M. Stanley, of Pittsburgh, in Bradys Bend, Armstrong County, on Nov. 17; a 548-pound male, taken by Crystal K. Catherman, of Pottersdale, in West Keating Township, Clinton County, on Nov. 19.

After two days of the four-day season, the top bear harvest county in the state remained Lycoming with 192.  The rest of the line-up of the top five counties for bear harvests, so far, are: Clinton, 182; Tioga, 117; Potter 88; and Centre, 85.

County harvests by region for the first two days are: 

Northwest: Warren, 81; Clarion, 48; Forest, 44; Venango, 38; Jefferson, 37; Erie, 6; Butler, 5; and Crawford, 5.

Southwest: Somerset, 64; Fayette, 60; Armstrong, 25; Westmoreland, 19; Indiana, 9; and Cambria, 8.

Northcentral: Lycoming, 192; Clinton, 182; Tioga, 117; Potter 88; Centre, 85; McKean, 75; Clearfield, 69; Cameron, 57; Elk, 55; and Union, 52.

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 79; Bedford, 64; Mifflin, 39; Blair, 28; Juniata, 24; Perry, 23; Fulton, 16; Franklin, 10; Snyder, 5; and Adams, 1.

Northeast: Pike, 55; Monroe, 47; Luzerne, 45; Wayne, 31; Bradford, 30; Carbon, 29; Sullivan, 29; Columbia, 18; Lackawanna, 18; Wyoming, 15; Susquehanna, 13; and Northumberland, 8.

Southeast: Dauphin, 22; Schuylkill, 13; Berks, 1; Lehigh, 1; and Northampton, 1.

In addition to participating in the closing day of the four-day season on Nov. 21, hunters with an unfilled bear license may participate in extended bear seasons that run concurrent with all or portions of the first week of the firearms deer season. For those deer hunters who didn't purchase a bear license, but are headed to an area where the extended bear season is being held, bear license sales will reopen from Nov. 22 through Nov. 25. 

For details about those areas open to extended bear hunting and the dates, please see pages 36 and 37 of the 2012-13 Digest.  Bear check stations opened during the extended bear seasons can be found on page 38 of the 2012-13 Digest.

Note to Editors: If you would like to receive Game Commission news releases via e-mail, please send a note with your name, address, telephone number and the name of the organization you represent to: [email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission

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