Beaver County Sportsmen's Conservation League

To promote and foster, the protection and conservation of our wildlife resources

PA Game Commission significant changes to the sale of 2021-2022 hunting licenses.

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The PGC increased the transaction fees for all hunting licenses.  The cost for a PA resident antlerless deer license is now from $6.90 to $6.97.  Non-resident antlerless deer license is $26.90 to $26.97.

The County Treasurer’s Office will begin accepting PA resident antlerless deer applications by mail only on Monday, July 12, 2021.  The Treasurer’s Office recommends mailing applications no earlier than Friday, July 9 2021.  Per PGC rules, any resident applications received prior to Monday, July 12 2021 will be returned unprocessed.  Any checks received for the wrong amount will be returned and will go unprocessed, jeopardizing the hunter’s choice of Wildlife Management Units (WMU).  Please be sure to write the check for the correct amount and verify your math when paying for multiple licenses with a check.

Previously, a hunter could hold only 3 doe applications for the entire state, no matter the WMU (with exception of “special regulation areas around Pittsburgh and Philadelphia). Starting this year, a hunter can hold 6 active doe licenses anywhere in the state at one time. If he or she harvests a doe and reports it to the Game Commission, they may apply for a 7th doe license but can only have 6 active at one time.

During the 3 mail in rounds, each hunter can only get 1 license per round, but as of the over the counter sales, they may get up to 6. Hunters who report harvests online through HuntFish.PA.gov or call the Customer Support line at 1-800-838-4431 will instantly become eligible to purchase another license, if any are available.  Those reporting by mail will not be eligible to buy another license until their report is logged.

The Game Commission has decreased the allotment of doe licenses in some of the most popular WMUs, including 1A by 4,000 and up to 9,000 in some areas.

The dates to mail in doe license applications are as follows:

July 12th – PA residents only
July 19th – Non residents may apply for the first time
Aug 2nd – Unsold, 1st round (commonly referred to as “second round”)
Aug 16th – Unsold, 2nd round (commonly referred to as “third round”)
September 13th begins over the counter sales for any WMU with left over licenses.

Lastly, landowner antlerless deer licenses must be issued prior to the start of the regular application period.  The last day to purchase a landowner doe license is Friday, July 9.  Landowner doe licenses are only available in the County Treasurer’s Office located in the Beaver County Courthouse 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009.  If you have any questions, please call the County Treasurer’s Office at 724-770-4540.

Thank you,

Sandie Egley
Beaver County Treasurer

NRA ONLINE HUNTER-ED COURSE EXPANDS TO PENNSYLVANIA

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Prospective hunters who need to become certified before getting their first Pennsylvania license now have yet another option.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission today announced that completion of the National Rifle Association’s free hunter-education online course will satisfy the prerequisite for obtaining a hunter or furtaker license in the Commonwealth.

The NRA course will be offered free of charge in addition to the in-person and online courses currently offered by the Game Commission. In-person courses are back up and running after a year of being available on a limited basis during the pandemic.

Those looking to schedule an online or in-person course can check availability and make reservations from the hunter-education page at www.pgc.pa.gov.

The Game Commission first made available an online course in 2016, in partnership with Kalkomey Enterprises.

While the majority of new hunters, particularly those who are younger, no doubt will continue to prefer the in-person courses taught by a dedicated team of over 1,800 instructors across the state, becoming certified online is a convenient option that better fits the schedules of some prospective hunters, Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said.

“Maintaining Pennsylvania’s strong hunting tradition depends greatly upon the continual recruitment of new hunters, and the more options they have to complete the training they need to get a license, the better all are accommodated,” Burhans said. “For decades on end, hunter education has provided the foundation for new hunters to make sound and safe decisions as they begin hunting and trapping the Great Outdoors, and we are glad to welcome the NRA into the fold in helping to meet our recruitment needs.”

Pennsylvania joins Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia as states that accept NRA Hunter Education as a prerequisite for obtaining a hunting license.

MEDIA CONTACT: Travis Lau – 717-705-6541

https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/game-commission-details.aspx?newsid=478

Celebrating 125 Years of Conservation Leadership YouTube Video

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The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s start-up was anything but easy.

Youtube video link  

Established by law in 1895, the agency’s existence hinged on an appropriation that could be used only for postage.

The six commissioners and chief game protector financed operations from their own pockets, with a handful of wardens working for half the fine money they collected.

With the timely establishment of a resident hunting license to provide indispensable capital, and through partnering with legislators to strengthen wildlife laws, the Game Commission quickly became a leader in wildlife conservation that attracted attention and requests for guidance from across the country.

Depleted game populations were brought back, songbirds were protected, a state game lands system was assembled to provide habitat and hunting opportunities, and laws to ensure fair-chase and fair-share standards were enforced to enhance the experiences of all Pennsylvanians who cared about The Great Outdoors.

These 125 years, the agency has held true to the same principles on which it was founded. The Pennsylvania Game Commission remains a national leader in conservation.

While it’s true the agency in the past century and a quarter has assumed greater responsibilities and today carries out its mission amid shrinking habitat statewide and mounting concerns for wildlife’s wellbeing, the Game Commission’s resolve to protect and manage wildlife and habitat is as resolute now as ever.

Learn more at www.pgc.pa.gov

Tracy A. Graziano: script, cinematography, editing, graphics Hal Korber: cinematography Joe Kosack: script Jack Hicks: narrator Music licensed through stockmusic.net “Legends” by Kirkhaug, 407 Productions “Guardians of Hope” by Kirkhaug, 407 Productions “Reconstruction” by Marshall Smith, APRA

 

https://youtu.be/q2OflzSARrQ

SEE A TURKEY AND SUBMIT A REPORT

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Each summer, Pennsylvanians help track wild turkey populations by reporting their turkey sightings to the Game Commission, and a new survey period is about to begin.

The Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey opens July 1 and will run through August. The two-month window follows the current national standard used by all state wildlife agencies, providing comparable data across the wild turkey’s entire range.

Turkey sighting reports can be made through the Game Commission’s mobile app or on the agency’s website, www.pgc.pa.gov.

On the website, click on “Turkey Sighting Survey” in the Quick Clicks section. The mobile app can be found by searching for “Pennsylvania Game Commission” in the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store, and selecting “Turkey Sighting Survey.”

The public is encouraged to report any turkeys observed during July and August. Information submitted helps the agency analyze turkey reproduction. Participants are requested to record the number of wild turkeys they see, along with the general location, date, and contact information if agency biologists have any questions. Viewers can also access results from previous years.

“The turkey survey enhances our agency’s internal survey, which serves as a long-term index of turkey reproduction and is used in our turkey population model,” explained Mary Jo Casalena, agency wild-turkey biologist. “By reporting all turkeys seen during each sighting, whether gobblers, hens with broods or hens without broods, the data help us determine total productivity, and allow us to compare long-term reproductive success.”

Many factors including spring weather, habitat, previous winter-food abundance, predation and last fall’s harvest, affect wild-turkey productivity. The 2020 spring-turkey population was approximately 196,260, which was 11 percent below the previous three-year average of 219,400. Fortunately, last summer’s average reproductive success (2.7 poults per hen), allowed for stability in the statewide turkey population coming into this spring’s breeding season. At the Wildlife Management Unit level, reproductive success in 2020 improved in 10 of 23 WMUs compared to the previous three-year average. It was similar to the previous three-year average in two WMUs, but declined to below average in 11 WMUs. Areas where reproduction declined were scattered with no region showing a strong pattern of declines or increases in reproduction.

Reproductive success in 2020 also varied considerably among the Mid-Atlantic states. Poult production was lowest in Delaware (1.0 poult/hen) and Maryland (1.9 poults/hen). Interestingly Maryland experienced one of the highest reproductive rates the previous year at 2.7 poults/hen in 2019. Production was highest in New Hampshire and Maine (4.0 poults/hen). Large sample sizes in New York, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire provided tighter confidence intervals for these estimates compared to the other states.

“Thanks to the popularity of this survey in Pennsylvania, we have high confidence in our estimates,” Casalena emphasized. “Let’s maintain these results in 2021 and even increase participation.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Travis Lau – 717-705-6541

https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/game-commission-details.aspx?newsid=477

 

Pennsylvania Field Days

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Field Days introduce participants to outdoor sports such as archery, trapping, and hunting through closely supervised hands-on activities. An adult must accompany all youth participants and can accompany more than one youth. Please ensure that your child meets the age requirements of the specific event that you are registering for as each event is different. If you are interested in hosting one of your events on this page, please contact PGCHunterEducation@pa.gov

https://www.register-ed.com/programs/39

HUNTING LICENSES TO GO ON SALE JUNE 14

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With more Sunday hunting opportunities on the way, additional days available for hunters to fill their antlerless deer tags and the biggest allotment of elk licenses yet, the 2021-22 season is one that Pennsylvania hunters eagerly are awaiting.

And they won’t have to wait for long.

Hunting and furtaker licenses for 2021-22 will go on sale Monday, June 14 and the new license year begins July 1.

General hunting licenses and furtaker licenses each cost $20.97 for Pennsylvania residents and $101.97 for nonresidents.

Resident senior hunters and furtakers ages 65 and older can purchase one-year licenses for $13.97, or lifetime licenses for $51.97. For $101.97, resident seniors can purchase lifetime combination licenses that afford them hunting and furtaking privileges.

Like other hunters and trappers, seniors still need to purchase bear licenses to pursue bruins and obtain permits to harvest bobcats, fishers or river otters. Hunters who acquired their senior lifetime licenses after May 13, 2017 are required to obtain an annual pheasant permit to hunt or harvest pheasants.

A complete list of licensing requirements can be found at www.pgc.pa.gov.

Once again this year, additional hunting will be offered on three Sundays – Sunday, Nov. 14; Sunday, Nov. 21; and Sunday, Nov. 28. But unlike last year, when those Sundays were open only for deer or bear hunting, this year they’re open for other species that are in season, too, except turkeys and migratory game birds. A complete guide to Sunday hunting is included in the 2021-22 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest issued to all license buyers.

Pennsylvania elk hunters in 2021-22 also will be out there in record numbers. The 187 licenses available marks an increase from the 164 allocated the previous year. A record 56 of the 2021-22 licenses are for bulls. And the January late season, which in its first two years was open only to antlerless elk hunting, in 2022 will be open to bull hunting, as well. Ten of the 49 licenses to be issued for the Jan. 1 through 8 late season are for bulls.

The January late season is one of three elk seasons. There are 14 antlered and 15 antlerless licenses available for the archery-only elk season, which runs from Sept. 11 through 25, when bulls are in the rut. There are 32 antlered and 77 antlerless licenses available for the general six-day regular elk season, which runs from Nov. 1 through 6.

Licenses are awarded by lottery. License applications can be submitted online or at any license issuing agent. A separate application, costing $11.97, is needed for each season. Hunters wishing to apply for all three pay $35.91. In each drawing, season-specific bonus points are awarded to those who aren’t drawn.

The deadline to apply for an elk license is July 31.

Many hunters who regularly buy their licenses as soon as sales begin are motivated by securing a Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permit, which are available in limited numbers and enable holders to harvest antlerless deer in any established deer season.

Buying early also helps ensure hunters won’t miss their opportunity to apply for an antlerless deer license.

A resident Pennsylvanian who buys their 2021-22 hunting license is eligible to apply for an antlerless deer license July 12. Nonresidents can apply July 19. And a second round in which a hunter can receive a second antlerless deer license begins Aug. 2 for Wildlife Management Units where licenses remain. And if licenses still remain, a final round begins Aug. 16.

It’s as important as ever this year for hunters to submit their antlerless deer license applications on schedule. A total of 925,000 antlerless deer licenses are available, down from 932,000 last year. Hunters statewide now have the opportunity to apply for and receive additional antlerless deer licenses, as long as licenses remain available, and provided that a hunter holds no more than six unfilled antlerless licenses at a time. And the return of concurrent hunting for antlered and antlerless deer during the duration of the firearms deer season gives hunters in much of the state additional time to fill their tags.

Further details are outlined in the Hunting & Trapping Digest.

Hunting licenses can be purchased online at https://huntfish.pa.gov, a newly launched customer-friendly licensing platform. Just create an account or log into one you previously created to purchase all the licenses you need. A map to locate a license issuing agent near you can be found on the Licenses and Permits page at www.pgc.pa.gov.

Game Commission Mobile App

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The official app of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. This app provides official information for Pennsylvania hunters and furtakers.

pgc moble app

 

 

Features

  • What’s Near Me? – Use the hunter-focused interactive map to find places of interest that are nearest to your current location. Use the distance slider and layer options to filter results. Layers include: state game lands, license sale locations, wildlife management unit boundaries, waterfowl zones, pheasant release sites, region offices, state parks and more.
  • What’s in Season? – See what’s in season by filtering species, date, or management area.
  • Share Location – Let friends and family know where you are.
  • View fluorescent orange requirements, legal hunting hours, license privileges, seasons and bag limits, and the current Hunting & Trapping Digest regardless of internet connection.
  • Report a harvest, violation, road-killed deer, or wildlife emergency.
  • Find a license issuing outlet or purchase your license or permit online.
  • Check the status of your antlerless deer, elk, or controlled goose hunt application.
  • Contact the Game Commission’s region offices and headquarters.

Tips for using the Mobile app

  • Turn on the location services. The mobile application will only access pertinent location information, in real time, to utilize location-dependent features.
  • Filter What’s In Season by location. When choosing a location, you can select a Wildlife Management Unit, duck zone, goose zone, elk management area, or all.
  • External links. Some links will take you outside of the app and require an internet connection. They are designated with a box and arrow icon to the right of the link. Example: www.sharedeer.orgOpens In A New WindowOpens In A New Window.
  • Using the Map.
    • Use the compass icon, top right, to see the map legend.
    • Use the menu button, top right, to find additional layers. Tap the arrow next to a heading for sub menus.
    • Use the folding map, top left, to change the map’s base layer.
  • Using the Near Me feature.
    • Tap Near Me to bring up a filter selection.
    • Select a distance and layer(s) of interest, then tap Filter Results.

Future Features in the Works

Some features are already in the hopper for future enhancements

  • What’s Near There. We have a what’s Near Me feature, we’re working on what’s Near There that could be used for planning trips away from your current location.
  • Links and alerts to News Releases

DEER-ABUSE CHARGES FILED

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New Release Release #02-20

Brookville teenagers face aggravated animal cruelty, other counts.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission today filed charges against two Brookville, Pa. teenagers who recorded social-media videos of themselves holding down and repeatedly kicking an immobile white-tailed deer.

Charged are Alexander Brock Smith, 18, and a 17-year-old juvenile male. Each faces two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty and two felony counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated animal cruelty, as well as several other misdemeanor and summary counts.

A detailed list of the charges against each defendant and the possible maximum sentences based on those charges appears at the bottom of this news release.

The Nov. 30 incident for which Smith and his accomplice were charged has been seen by thousands of people worldwide who viewed the videos. The Game Commission became aware of the incident soon after the videos were posted, when one viewer shared a video to the agency’s Facebook page. The agency immediately launched an investigation.

Each defendant was interviewed as part of the investigation and confirmed they were hunting together Nov. 30 in an enclosed tree stand on property Smith’s family owns in Beaver Township, Jefferson County. The juvenile shot and wounded a buck, then missed with a follow-up shot. The deer was immobilized, video was taken, then shared through the messaging app Snapchat. One recipient of the video saved it to his phone and contacted the Game Commission, and his phone, as well as the defendants’ phones, were seized for forensic analysis.

Smith was arraigned on charges today before Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak and was released on $50,000 unsecured bail. Paperwork containing the juvenile’s charges also was filed today, which begins the process of the charges being sent to juvenile court.

Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said the filing of charges brings to an end a thorough investigation about an incident that has drawn much attention and public outrage. Burhans said posts about the incident on the agency’s Facebook page have made clear the contempt hunters hold for the actions depicted on the video.

“Hunters care deeply about wildlife,” Burhans said. “It’s through their decades of dedication to the outdoors that we enjoy healthy and sustainable populations of wild birds and mammals, and that those wildlife species that encounter trouble are identified and afforded additional protection.

“Hunters are taught at an early age to hunt ethically, to be respectful of the game they hunt, the property upon which they hunt and other hunters,” Burhans said. “The Game Commission’s Hunter-Trapper Education program emphasizes these longstanding principles to new hunters.”

Posts by followers of the Game Commission’s social-media pages made it clear that many were keeping track of the case as the investigation continued. Some expressed frustration with the length of time it took for charges to be filed, but in cases where charges likely are to be brought under the state’s Game and Wildlife Code, it’s important to complete a thorough investigation before filing any charges because a hearing on the charges might be held soon afterward, and the case closed permanently.

Even in this case, where there was video of an unlawful act, investigators had to determine it happened in Pennsylvania, where the Game Commission has authority to file charges, as well as collect evidence to prove the teens committed the act and posted the videos.

“It’s easy to understand why people were outraged by the incident,” Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners President Tim Layton said. “But the worst-case scenario would have been rushing the investigation and heading into court with a case that wasn’t as strong as it could have been.

“Complicated investigations take time, and on behalf of the Board of Game Commissioners, I would like to commend the Game Commission, its Northwest Region Office and all of the game wardens who investigated the matter in cooperation with Pennsylvania State Police, local law-enforcement and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office. It’s a difficult job, and you do it extremely well.”

Jefferson County District Attorney Jeff Burkett also spoke of the length of time it takes to complete a thorough investigation.

“Obviously, this case has generated a large amount of public outcry,” Burkett said. “People have assumed that officers have been dragging their feet when, actually, the opposite is true. They have put a lot of hard work in on this case in order to present the case for prosecution. I commend the Pennsylvania Game Commission for their efforts in this matter.”

The Pennsylvania Game Commission does not release the names of minors who are charged with violations of the state Game and Wildlife Code.

 

Charges filed

Charges were filed today against two Brookville, Pa. teens who recorded social-media videos of themselves holding down and repeatedly kicking an immobile white-tailed deer. A list of the charges they face and the maximum penalties associated with each appear below.

 

Alexander Brock Smith

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(1) – Aggravated Cruelty to Animal – F3
  • Up to 7 years incarceration
  • Up to $15,000 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(2) – Aggravated Cruelty to Animal – F3
  • Up to 7 years incarceration
  • Up to $15,000 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(1) – Aggravated Cruelty to Animal  (Conspiracy) – F3
  • Up to 7 years incarceration
  • Up to $15,000 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(2) – Aggravated Cruelty to Animal (Conspiracy) – F3
  • Up to 7 years incarceration
  • Up to $15,000 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5533(a) – Cruelty to Animal – M2
  • Up to 2 years incarceration
  • Up to $5,000 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 6301(a)(1)(i) – Corruption of Minors – M1
  • Up to 5 years incarceration
  • Up to $10,000 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 4910(1) – Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence – M2
  • Up to 2 years incarceration
  • Up to $5,000 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 34 Pa.C.S. § 2162(a) – Disturbance of Game or Wildlife – S1
  • Up to 3 months incarceration
  • $1,000 to $1,500 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 34 Pa.C.S. § 2307(a) – Unlawful Possession Game or Wildlife – S2
  • Up to 1 month incarceration
  • $400 to $800 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 34 Pa.C.S. § 2308(a)(10) – Unlawful Devices and Methods – S4
  • $150 to $300 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 34 Pa.C.S. § 2102(a); 58 Pa. Code § 141.20 – Regulations; Protective Material Required – S5
  • $100 to $200 in fines
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

 

17-year-old juvenile

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(1) – Aggravated Cruelty to Animal – F3
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(2) – Aggravated Cruelty to Animal – F3
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(1) – Aggravated Cruelty to Animal  (Conspiracy) – F3
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(2) – Aggravated Cruelty to Animal (Conspiracy) – F3
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 5533(a) – Cruelty to Animal – M2
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 18 Pa.C.S. § 4910(1) – Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence – M2
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 34 Pa.C.S. § 2162(a) – Disturbance of Game or Wildlife – S1
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 34 Pa.C.S. § 2307(a) – Unlawful Possession Game or Wildlife – S2
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 34 Pa.C.S. § 2308(a)(10) – Unlawful Devices and Methods – S4
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

 

  1. 34 Pa.C.S. § 2102(a); 58 Pa. Code § 141.20 – Regulations; Protective Material Required – S5
  • Penalties to be determined in juvenile court system
  • Multiple years of hunting license revocation

Courtesy PA Game Commission

 

 

PENNSYLVANIA SETS ALL-TIME RECORD BEAR HARVEST

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News Release Release #81-19

Hunters have set a new Pennsylvania bear-harvest record.

Although numbers are continuing to come in, and bear hunting remains open through Saturday in some of the state’s Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), as of this morning, the 2019 preliminary bear harvest sat at 4,577.

The Commonwealth’s previous record bear harvest occurred in 2011, when hunters took 4,350 through a slate of bear seasons. Hunters also harvested 4,164 in 2005.

Expanded hunting opportunities provided by new special-firearms and muzzleloader bear seasons and an expanded archery bear season have helped push the 2019 bear harvest. Record bear license sales also have contributed: license sales currently exceed 200,000; previously they have held at highs between 170,000 and 175,000. And the statewide bear population at the start of the bear-hunting seasons was about 20,000 bears.

“Our goal was to offer more hunting opportunities and prevent Pennsylvania’s bear population from increasing,” noted Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. “The response from hunters to the expanded seasons and the success they enjoyed afield were exciting to see.”

Black bears are thriving in Penn’s Woods today. But in a state with 12 million residents, concern about additional bear population gains compelled the Game Commission earlier this year to double the number of statewide bear-hunting days, creating the state’s lengthiest bear-hunting opportunity since the 1930s.

“It’s the largest suite of bear-season changes ever approved in a single year,” explained Matt Lovallo, agency Game Mammals Section supervisor. “In most of the state, we’re going from 14 or 16 days of bear hunting to 32, from three Saturdays to seven, and we started hunting bears almost two weeks earlier.”

The additional days and increased number of bear hunters appear to have made a significant difference. Great weather on peak hunting days also helped.

The 2018 bear harvest came in at 3,153 bears, 11th-best all-time, but also the lowest bear harvest in the past 11 years. Bad weather negatively affected hunting conditions on key hunting days.

The largest bear through all 2019 seasons is the 813-pound male taken with a rifle on the opening day of the general season in Smithfield Township, Monroe County, by Victor M. Vassalluzzo, of Kintnersville.

The heaviest bear ever taken in Pennsylvania was an 875-pounder harvested in 2010 in Middle Smithfield Township, Pike County. Since 1992, seven black bears weighing at least 800 pounds have been lawfully harvested in Pennsylvania hunting seasons.

Other large bears taken in the 2019 bear general and extended bear seasons – all taken with a rifle – include: a 747-pound male taken in Wright Township, Luzerne County, by J. Kripp Jr., of Mountaintop; a 743-pound male taken in Greene Township, Pike County, by Matthew J. Erdie Jr., of Nazareth; a 696-pound male taken in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County, by Brian J. Borosh, of Jim Thorpe; a 661-pound male taken in Lake Township, Wayne County, by Michael A. Biduck II, of West Abington; a 658-pound male taken in Hopewell Township, Huntingdon County, by Michael A. Collins, of Altoona; a 657-pound male taken in Franklin Township, Columbia County, by Nicholas A. Podgurski, of Elysburg; a 656-pound male taken in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, by Dale J. Kobal, of Hunlock Creek; a 623-pound male taken in Beech Creek Township, Clinton County, by Mikael J. Catanese, of Sewickley; and a 620-pound male taken in Miles Township, Centre County, by Reuben Kennel, of Turbotville.

Bears were taken in 59 counties. Lycoming County led the state with 283, followed by Clinton County with 267 and Tioga County with 261.

The latest county preliminary harvest totals for all seasons are:

Northwest (535): Warren, 142; Venango, 79; Forest, 66; Jefferson, 65; Clarion, 61; Crawford, 56; Butler, 44; Erie, 15; and Mercer, 7.

Southwest (342): Somerset, 123; Fayette, 61; Armstrong, 56; Indiana, 42; Cambria, 29; Westmoreland, 28; Allegheny, 2; and Greene, 1.

Northcentral (1,588): Lycoming, 283; Clinton, 267; Tioga, 261; Potter 173; Centre, 144; McKean, 125; Clearfield, 103; Elk, 100; Cameron, 78; and Union, 54.

Southcentral (718): Huntingdon, 177; Bedford, 148; Fulton, 80; Perry, 67; Mifflin, 54; Franklin, 47; Juniata, 42; Blair, 40; Cumberland, 27; Snyder, 24; Adams, 11; and York, 1.

Northeast (1,214): Luzerne, 161; Pike, 161; Monroe, 130; Wayne, 130; Bradford, 125; Carbon, 87; Sullivan, 85; Susquehanna,82; Wyoming, 82; Lackawanna, 75; Columbia, 64; Northumberland, 25; and Montour, 7.

Southeast (179): Schuylkill, 75; Dauphin, 66; Northampton, 15; Lebanon, 2; Berks, 17; and Lehigh, 4.

The latest preliminary bear harvests by Wildlife Management Unit are: WMU 1A, 20; WMU 1B, 156; WMU 2A, 11; WMU 2B, 2; WMU 2C, 285; WMU 2D, 184; WMU 2E, 82; WMU 2F, 338; WMU 2G, 710; WMU 2H, 110; WMU 3A, 260; WMU 3B, 424; WMU 3C, 223; WMU 3D, 488; WMU 4A, 303; WMU 4B, 191; WMU 4C, 248; WMU 4D, 367; WMU 4E, 135; WMU 5A, 25; WMU 5B, 1; and WMU 5C, 13.

Final bear harvest numbers will be provided in early 2020 after biologists confirm and crosscheck harvest records. For now, it’s clear hunters have set a record bear harvest, a direct result of increasing opportunity in 2019. It’s news the Game Commission preferred to share as soon as possible.

 

General Season

The Game Commission on Dec. 2 issued a news release reporting preliminary totals for the four-day statewide general bear season, but the numbers were inaccurate because they included bears harvested on the first day of the extended season.

Corrected numbers for the general season appear below.

Hunters on Nov. 27, the final day of Pennsylvania’s statewide bear season, harvested 113 bears, raising the 2019 statewide general-season harvest to 1,611.

None of the bears taken on the final day of the statewide season cracked the Top 10 list for heaviest bears.

The top bear-hunting county in the state over the general season was Lycoming County with 118 bears. It was followed by Tioga County with 113 bears.

The preliminary statewide season bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 11 (19 in 2018); WMU 1B, 49 (120); WMU 2A, 3 (5); WMU 2C, 75 (127); WMU 2D, 100 (125); WMU 2E, 43 (66); WMU 2F, 177 (213); WMU 2G, 321 (357); WMU 2H, 53 (65); WMU 3A, 87 (106); WMU 3B, 152 (129); WMU 3C, 59 (53); WMU 3D, 178 (153); WMU 4A, 82 (127); WMU 4B, 36 (55); WMU 4C, 60 (92); WMU 4D, 98 (123); WMU 4E, 24 (53); WMU 5A, 2 (5) and WMU 5C, 1 (0).

Statewide season harvests by county and region are:

Northwest (238): Warren, 67 (59); Clarion, 38 (41); Venango, 35 (78); Forest, 27 (55); Jefferson, 26 (69); Butler, 21 (19); Crawford, 19 (59); Mercer, 4 (13); and Erie, 1 (18).

Southwest (123): Somerset, 35 (57); Armstrong, 32 (26); Indiana, 27 (31); Fayette, 15 (39); Cambria, 9 (16); Westmoreland, 4 (14); and Greene, 1 (0).

Northcentral (653): Lycoming, 118 (107); Tioga, 113 (90); Clinton, 93 (128); Potter, 79 (62); McKean, 60 (47); Clearfield, 54 (80); Elk, 53 (47); Centre, 35 (52); Cameron, 32 (61); and Union, 16 (11).

Southcentral (172): Huntingdon, 52 (78); Bedford, 37 (54); Fulton, 21 (35); Perry, 19 (14); Blair, 16 (22); Juniata, 8 (16); Mifflin, 8 (10); Franklin, 6 (14); Cumberland, 3 (4); and Adams, 2 (5).

Northeast (386): Pike, 71 (51); Monroe, 49 (50); Luzerne, 48 (53); Bradford, 42 (50); Wayne, 35 (30); Susquehanna, 31 (13); Sullivan, 30 (32); Wyoming, 22 (27); Lackawanna, 21 (20); Carbon, 19 (31); Columbia, 13 (20); and Northumberland, 5 (17).

Southeast (39): Dauphin, 18 (26); Schuylkill, 14 (20); Berks, 6 (1); and Lebanon, 1 (7).

Courtesy PA Game Commission

 

 

LEARN ABOUT BEAR HUNTING IN PENNSYLVANIA

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Hunting

Modifications for the 2019 seasons include expanding the mid-October muzzleloader and special firearms deer seasons to include bears statewide; increasing to two weeks the length of the statewide archery bear season and shifting it to the two weeks following the muzzleloader and special firearms bear seasons; and expanding 4-day extended bear seasons to seven days in most wildlife management units (WMUs) where they are held.

Bear Feeding Ban: It is unlawful to intentionally lay or place food, fruit, hay, grain, chemical, salt or other minerals that may cause bears to congregate or habituate an area. In addition, if nuisance bears are being attracted to an area by other wildlife feeding, game wardens can issue written notice to temporarily halt the activity.

Bear Hunting Link to PA Game Commission

Courtesy of Pennsylvania Game Commission