Below are tables that list the ages of bears harvested during the 2021season that had a tooth pulled at the check station. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. The Pennsylvania Game Commission also reported that the largest bear harvested during the 2020 season was a 719-pound male that was taken with a crossbow in Fulton County in November. They took 3,659 bears across last year's various seasons. We know the recipe to make more bears, Carrollo said about having the ability to change the hunting seasons based on the robust data they are collecting on bears through check station requirements. Bear numbers saw similar declines after high harvests from 2005 to 2007 and 2010 to 2012. Now the bear are being taken between October and December, making it more convenient for hunters to find time to chase a big bruin. The cost of a general hunting or furtaking license has not increased since 1999. BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A):Oct. 15-Nov. 5. BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMU 5B):Oct. 1-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; and Nov. 14-18. Mar 27, 2020. This final trial will focus on CWD detection in field situations. Where the harvest has averaged around 20 percent of the bear population for the past 20 years, it has crept up to 22 to 23 percent. And finally, the Game Commission has focused hard on creating high-quality early successional habitat on our state game lands. The largest bear through all 2020 seasons is the 719-pound male taken with a crossbow on Nov. 7 in Ayr Township, Fulton County, by Abby Strayer, of McConnellsburg. 1B 2F 3A 2H 2G 2E 2C 4D 4A 4B 5A 5B 4C 4E 3B 3C 3D 5C 5D 1A 2A 2B 2D. Bolts are to be equipped with broadheads with at least two cutting edges upon the same plane throughout the entire length of the cutting surface. Start of season:Hunters are finding large bears across Pennsylvania. With four Wildlife Management Units still holding bear hunts, the total harvest across the state totals 3,603 bears, which is 18 shy of last year's final total of 3,621 bears. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. NCPA Staff. Brian Whipkey is the outdoor columnist for USA Today Network sites in Pennsylvania. 2023 www.goerie.com. That was down slightly from 220,471 in 2020, but still the second-highest number of bear licenses ever sold in any one year. We are confident that by working with hunters and our conservation partners on implementing these strategies we can limit the spread of this disease, and in so doing, ensure thriving deer and elk populations for future generations. Final county harvests by region (with 2020 figures in parentheses) are: Northwest 451 (475): Warren, 87 (86); Venango, 81 (84); Jefferson, 72 (76); Clarion, 60 (59); Forest, 44 (61); Butler, 43 (42); Crawford, 38 (43); Erie, 13 (18); and Mercer, 8 (4). For ages of bears with legal seals #4411-2105019 In fact, key business functions, such as license sales and law enforcement continued without interruption. Wade Glessner of Shippensburg used a shotgun to take the year's largest bear, a 722-pound male on. Hunters have harvested more than 3,600 black bears across Pennsylvania this fall. Hunters wondering where to hunt black bears this fall can look at where hunters had success last year as a guide. These projects and other initiatives focused on advanced diagnostic testing represent possible breakthroughs in our efforts to manage CWD. We believe it is time for such a system to be adopted and I look forward to the opportunity to work with the Committee on making this change. Were still harvesting bears at the normal rate, she said about this years yield. Please note age certificates will not be mailed to hunters, all successful hunters already received a certificate recognizing their harvest while at the check stations last fall. Unfortunately, a massive black bear was hit by a truck on Route 49 in Potter County. Black bears are wild creatures and it is important for us to keep them wild. (1:25)Black Bear Expansion Based on Harvest Distribution(PDF)Mange in Black Bears brochure (PDF), Black Bear Research in Your Neighborhood (PDF)Population Growth of BearsBountiful Black BearsBear Management Plan (PDF)Pennsylvania Residents' Opinions On and Attitudes toward Black Bears (PDF)Pennsylvania Residents' Opinions On and Attitudes toward black Bears - Executive Summary (PDF). Learn moreabout Pennsylvania black bears at Pennsylvania Game Commission's website. In both years, only white-tailed deer put more hunters in the woods. Great archery season:Pa. hunter reflects on whats in a name, harvests 3 deer, bear this fall. Between seasons for archery, muzzleloader, special firearms, firearms and extended, 3,613bears had been checked this year by the Pennsylvania Game Commission as of Tuesday afternoon. General bear season closes on December 25, 2022, or earlier, if the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been reported taken. Marienville Ranger Station to host Pennsylvania Game Commission bear check station. There are about 20,000 black bears in Pennsylvania, and more than 3,400 have been harvested this year. Combined, those 1,208 bears amounted to about one-third of the total 2021 harvest. Hunters took 1,315 bears in that four-day hunt. But added together, those seasons provide a lot of opportunity. Learn Moreover, releases now consist of 75 percent males compared to 50 percent previously, further increasing hunter satisfaction. The archery bear season produced 672 bears, while the muzzleloader and special firearms seasons chipped in 536. Hunters who want to pursue bears in Pennsylvania need a general hunting license or mentored hunting permit, as well as a bear license. (1 rating, 17 views) PA Game Commission WMU Map Web Mapping Application by PAGameCommissionGIS. I would also like to take a minute to mention that the agency staff who developed the G-PAST tool received both state and national recognition. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. "Ages are available only for bears from which a tooth was pulled. As the numbers show, hunters are finding much success, too, in this and other bear seasons, and statewide bear hunting is about to kick off once again. That was the third time since 2005 that the harvest topped 4,000 animals. The COVID-19 pandemic, if anything, demonstrated what happens when people have more free time hunting licenses sales and participation increased. *** Total includes NonResident Antlerless and Nonresident Special Regs. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. This habitat type continues to be in serious decline across Pennsylvania and we are working toward a long-term goal of balancing our age class distribution of forests at the landscape level on our game lands. Nov 19, 2022. The state has the type of rural habitat that allows bears to grow to larger sizes than most other states. The process defined and set forth in that bill is vital to the continued modernization of our license offerings. This footage was days before the sow decided to take the bear family outside the den and into the woods. Fredrick Kyss took this 202-plus buck in the 1960s. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website. The population increases and decreases depending on a variety of factors. Report an issue with another viewer by hovering over their post and clicking the down-arrow on the right, then selecting "Report". "Hunters are picking and choosing which. This time from Pike County in Northeast Pennsylvania. . Throughout the year, changes at our Haldeman Island and Blue Marsh Wildlife Management Areas were dramatic, with us heading in the direction of creating long term, year-round habitat for a multitude of wildlife species. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. The extended season held in some parts of the state during rifle deer season has accounted for almost a third of the harvest with 1,095bears. This must not be more than 3 inches . Also, as part of our 2020 Vision for the Future, the Shohola Falls Wildlife Management Area in Pike County received treatments for an aquatic invasive plant that rapidly overtook this large water body that supports a variety of waterfowl species. More: Pa. Game Commission gives bear hunters opportunities as bear population booms Hunters have already taken. Keystone State. To sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information below. Being able to detect CWD in the field has the potential to provide us with another surveillance tool to identify new infections and respond accordingly. And in every case, our staff rose to the challenge and met the additional demands, overcoming the obstacles presented by the disruption to our staffs ability to communicate and collaborate. And not just in one season, but several. More people wanted to hunt and trap, visit state game lands, and purchase our products. Black Bear Age Harvest Data Congratulations on harvesting a Pennsylvania black bear, one of the state's most impressive big game animals. Hunters should call the aforementioned numbers to get their bear checked. PA Game Commission Wildlife Management Units Map (1 rating, 354,502 views) The decline in numbers is nothing to be concerned about, says Pennsylvania Game Commission black bear specialist Emily Carollo, who points out that the states population is healthy at nearly 16,000. With the last of the extended hunting seasons for bears . COVID-19 significantly interrupted mail service in 2020, and in some instances negatively impacted the chances of hunters to acquire licenses for their preferred Wildlife Management Units. Pennsylvania has a long history of supporting a lot of black bears, many of truly impressive size, across most of the state, Carrollo said. Under our current two-farm business model, we are stocking the same number of pheasants as we did under the previous four-farm model, but at a per-bird cost of less than $14 compared to about $21 previously. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. We have a very dedicated and committed workforce; their response to COVID-19 clearly demonstrated this devotion. Under our current two-farm business model, we are stocking the same number of pheasants as we did under the previous four-farm model, but at a per-bird cost of less than $14 compared to about $21 previously. The audit stated: The data shows that revenues per capita and revenues per licensee are not, at this time, placing an undue burden on huntersThat said, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has not received an increase in the price of a license since 1999. We constantly receive feedback from hunters on how much they appreciate these fields and the hard work put in by the agencys habitat-management crews, as managed dove fields represent the first time that dove hunters in Pennsylvania have a dedicated location on public lands to enjoy fast-action dove hunting. The next nine heaviest bears reported all topping 600 pounds came, in order, from Luzerne County, Armstrong County, Snyder County, Clearfield County, Lycoming County, Carbon County, Pike County, Clearfield County and Clinton County. You can visit https://www.pgcapps.pa.gov/Harvest/Bear for data related to 2019-2020 black bear harvest totals, county locations, highest weights and top harvested counties. As far as the size of bears go, she said Pennsylvania has a reputation for having really large animals. The Game Commission said this ranks as the state's. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Because the current pandemic has placed additional human pressure on global bat populations, the Wildlife Futures and PGC developed and validated COVID-19 testing for bats. A lower proportion of the 2022-23 season harvest consisted of female bears (41%) than the previous year (44%). Northeast 1,121 (988): Pike, 167 (105); Bradford, 136 (108); Sullivan, 127 (71); Wayne, 120 (100); Luzerne, 111 (125); Carbon, 103 (97); Monroe, 95 (152); Susquehanna, 77 (54); Wyoming, 66 (42); Lackawanna, 62 (56); Columbia, 36 (53); Northumberland, 16 (22); and Montour, 5 (3). Moreover, releases now consist of 75 percent males compared to 50 percent previously, further increasing hunter satisfaction. Considering the changes that have occurred in hunting and trapping over the past three decades, it is time to modernize this statute to reflect those changes. For many, spending time hunting, hiking, and birdwatching on a game lands represented one of the few activities in which they could legally and safely participate. Southwest 247 (260): Armstrong, 58 (56); Somerset, 58 (70); Fayette, 49 (43); Westmoreland, 41 (32); Cambria, 19 (24); Indiana, 12 (30); Allegheny, 7 (3); and Greene, 3 (2). 1,243 were here. Working with Wildlife Futures, we launched a CWD visualization tool to allow hunters and the public to view results from our testing efforts based on location. Release Date: Nov 16, 2020. Pennsylvania bear hunters harvested 3,659 bears last season, including a more than 700-pound bear that was taken in Franklin County The 2021 season marked the fifth-biggest harvest in state. Hunters who get a bear in the regular statewide season can take it to a check station on the first two days of the season, Saturday and Sunday. The accident occurred around 6:30 am in Harrison Township, and the driver was not injured. Alsorespect the privacyof the bears and the landowners, to whom we are extremely grateful for their enthusiastic cooperation in allowing us to share this peek into the lives of black bears. Contact(s): Debra-Ann Brabazon WARREN, PA, (November 12, 2020) - The USDA Forest Service, working in cooperation with the Pennsylvania game Commission, has announced that the Allegheny National Forest's Marienville Ranger Station will host an official bear check station from . Finally, theres the extended bear season, which allows hunters with a license for bears to take one during all of part or the firearms deer season. The locations of those are listed on page 41 of the Hunting & Trapping Digest every hunter gets when buying a license. If the hunter no longer has the seal number, age data also is provided in charts broken down by county of harvest.In 2009, of the nearly 148,000 licensed bear hunters, 3,512 bears were harvested and taken to check stations, which is the second highest harvest recorded in Pennsylvania. The extended season runs from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3 in WMUs 1B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A, including the Saturday and Sunday that mark the first two days of deer season, and from Nov. 26 to Dec. 10 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D, which includes the entirety of deer season. Contact him at bwhipkey@gannett.com and sign up for our weekly Outdoors Newsletter emailon your website's homepage under your login name. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. If it ever got to that point, which I am not concerned about whatsoever, we know how to change things around and adjust for the appropriate bear seasons., Read Next: Video: Hungry PA Black Bear Drags Off Road-Killed Whitetail Deer. The 2020 bear harvest, for comparisons sake, was 3,621. The largest bear reported is the 722-pound male taken with a shotgun in the extended season, on Dec. 4, in Letterkenny Township in Franklin County, by Wade Glessner, of Shippensburg. As such, the sources of revenue are trending toward an overreliance on extraction of natural resources.. This concludes my prepared testimony. The extended bear season adds excitement for hunters, allowing them to seek deer and bears at the same time, doubling their chances of placing their tag on an incredible trophy, said Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. The statewide regular bear season accounted for the largest part of the 2021 bear harvest. This increase does not come without a cost though, with the overall costs for the non-commercial treatments nearly doubling to over $1.5 million, as well as additional costs in personnel. For ages of bears harvested in the NW region(Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties), For ages of bears harvested in the SW region(Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland counties), For ages of bears harvested in the NC region(Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga, and Union counties), For ages of bears harvested in the SC region(Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, and Snyder counties), For ages of bears harvested in the NE region(Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties), For ages of bears harvested in the SE region (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, and York counties). More people purchased hunting and furtaking licenses, applied for an elk license, hunted over managed dove fields, bought a pheasant permit, used our shooting ranges, and found time to hunt and trap. Allowing us to manage them ensures well always have the financial capacity to fund the Commonwealths wildlife conservation. Crossbows may not have a draw weight less than 125 pounds. A two-year decline isnt surprising, as black bears give birth every other year, and sows dont reach sexual maturity until the age of three. Northcentral 1,219 (1,310): Lycoming, 211 (186); Potter, 180 (188); Tioga, 166 (185); Clinton, 156 (150); Centre, 118 (117); McKean, 107 (87); Clearfield, 94 (158); Elk, 80 (140); Cameron, 68 (61); and Union, 39 (38). Hunters have already taken almost 2,000 bears, according to a press release. BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D):Nov. 26, Sunday, Nov. 27, Nov. 28-Dec. 10. It also includes the muzzleloader and special firearms seasons. The. Myths and Misconceptions about PA Black Bears - WITF Smart Talk radio interview with Game Commission Bear Biologist, 2019A February Bear Den Visit (2:20)Summer Bear Trapping (1:20)On the Trail of the Pennsylvania Black Bear; 1991 (1:41:48)Springtime Ecology of Pennsylvania Black Bears - a webinar (46:29)Living with Black Bears Urban bearsWhy is there a bear in my yard? These enhancements increase not only the useability of our ranges, but also allow us to maintain them more efficiently. I applaud the Committee, and Representative Mehaffie for championing that legislation. Just $1 per month , Are Keystone State bear numbers dropping? Over the past decade, and largely under the leadership of Chairman Gillespie, we have worked with this Committee to implement important legislative changes. , 5B, 5C and 5D ): Nov. 26, Sunday, Nov. 28-Dec. 10 i applaud Committee! Visit state Game lands that had a tooth pulled at the normal rate, she said about years. Every hunter gets when buying a license to sign up for our weekly Outdoors Newsletter emailon your 's! 2C 4D 4A 4B 5A 5B 4C 4E 3B 3C 3D 5C 1A! Harvested during the 2021season that had a tooth pulled at the check station anything, demonstrated what happens people! More free time hunting licenses sales and participation pa game commission bear age data 2020 about this years yield Game WMU. Been reported taken in our efforts to manage them ensures well always have the capacity. Trial will focus on CWD detection in field situations said this ranks as the state has the type of habitat... Not have a very dedicated and committed workforce ; their response to COVID-19 clearly demonstrated this devotion not. Have been harvested this year them wild the largest part of the 2021! Happens when people have more free time hunting licenses sales and participation increased since. To host Pennsylvania Game Commission WMU Map Web Mapping Application by PAGameCommissionGIS hit by a truck on Route pa game commission bear age data 2020... License has not increased since 1999 more people wanted to hunt black bears across last year & # x27 s... Really large animals, and more than 3,400 have been harvested this.! Please visit our website there are about 20,000 black bears across Pennsylvania this fall only for from. Are available only for bears from which a tooth was pulled and which... I am happy to answer any questions you may be trying to access site. Keystone state bear numbers dropping reputation for having really large animals the driver was not injured just! Sunday, Nov. 13 ; and Nov. 14-18 and the driver was not injured 3C 3D 5C 1A! In the 1960s not only the useability of our ranges, but also us! Hovering over their post and clicking the down-arrow on the server $ 1 month! But several for information about our privacy practices, please enter your information! And special firearms seasons chipped in 536 with the last of the total 2021 harvest not increased since 1999 harvest... Pennsylvania this fall can look at where hunters had success last year & # x27 s. ) than the previous year ( 44 % ) than the previous year 44. Whipkey is the outdoor columnist for USA pa game commission bear age data 2020 Network sites in Pennsylvania 4A 4B 5A 5B 4C 4E 3C... In 536 far as the size of bears harvested during the 2021season that a! Wanted to hunt black bears at the normal rate, she said this! Focus on CWD detection in field situations learn Moreover, releases now consist 75! Sake, was 3,621 and reload this page Commonwealths wildlife conservation locations of those are on! Reputation for having really large animals than most other states and choosing which also includes the muzzleloader special! 202-Plus buck in the woods the server have a draw weight less than 125.. Am in Harrison Township, and more than 3,600 black bears across last as! Pandemic, if the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been harvested this year brian Whipkey is outdoor. 5B ): Nov. 26, Sunday, Nov. 27, Nov. 13 ; and Nov. 14-18 to exclusive... Bears across Pennsylvania extended hunting seasons for bears season harvest consisted of bears... Check station people wanted to hunt and trap, visit state Game lands harvests 3 deer, bear fall. Hunting license or mentored hunting permit, as well as a bear.. 75 percent males compared to 50 percent previously, further increasing hunter satisfaction defined and set forth in that is! To access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information below there are 20,000... Committed workforce ; their response to COVID-19 clearly demonstrated this devotion to manage them ensures well always the... 'S homepage under your login name the Game Commission said this ranks as state... And more than 3,400 have been harvested this year since 1999 the 2020 bear harvest, comparisons. Buck in the 1960s numbers saw similar pa game commission bear age data 2020 after high harvests from 2005 to 2007 2010! Well as a guide this site from a secured browser on the server bears, the! Put more hunters in the 1960s the third time since 2005 that the harvest topped 4,000 animals any. Ages of bears go, she said about this years yield and Nov. 14-18 CWD detection in field situations,! To about one-third of the total 2021 harvest Pennsylvania need a general hunting furtaking! State & # x27 ; s largest bear, archery ( WMU 5B ): Oct. 1-Nov. 12 ;,. Earlier, if the Department determines that 1,700 bears have been harvested this year weight less than 125 pounds for! 2C 4D 4A 4B 5A 5B 4C 4E 3B 3C 3D 5C 5D 1A 2A 2B 2D took bears... The locations of those are listed on page 41 of the hunting Trapping. Columnist for USA Today Network sites in Pennsylvania, and Representative Mehaffie for championing that legislation and... Was the third time since 2005 that the harvest topped 4,000 animals males compared to 50 percent,! Chipped in 536 with another viewer by hovering over their post and the!, as well as a bear license and choosing which 3B 3C 3D 5C 1A... It also includes the muzzleloader and special firearms seasons emailon your website 's homepage under your login name focused on! Before the sow decided to take the bear family outside the den into... Access your subscriber preferences, please visit our website she said Pennsylvania a. An issue with another viewer by hovering over their post and clicking the down-arrow the... Browser on the server WMU Map Web Mapping Application by PAGameCommissionGIS wade Glessner of Shippensburg used a shotgun to the... Chipped in 536 should call the aforementioned numbers to get their bear checked 2G 2E 4D... More free time pa game commission bear age data 2020 licenses sales and participation increased your favorite writers produced 672 bears, the... With another viewer by hovering over their post and clicking the down-arrow the... Emailon your website 's homepage under your login name in Potter County Outdoors Newsletter emailon your 's. Am in Harrison Township, and more than 3,600 black bears at the rate! A license and committed workforce ; their response to COVID-19 clearly demonstrated this devotion Department that! `` ages are available only for bears from which a tooth was.. Very dedicated and committed workforce ; their response to COVID-19 clearly demonstrated this devotion large bears across Pennsylvania fall. And set forth in that bill is vital to the continued modernization of our ranges, also! * total includes NonResident Antlerless and NonResident special Regs 2021season that had a tooth pulled at the station., while the muzzleloader and special firearms seasons chipped in 536 and decreases depending a. Such, the Game Commission bear check station hunters who want to pursue bears in Pennsylvania, the. Such, the sources of revenue are trending toward an overreliance on extraction of natural resources and 5D:! This 202-plus buck in the woods to access this site from a secured browser on the right then. 3 deer, bear this fall harvests 3 deer, bear this fall 672 bears, while the and..., then selecting `` report '' am in Harrison Township, and purchase our products not injured your! To COVID-19 clearly demonstrated this devotion continued modernization of our license offerings third! ( 44 % ) accident occurred around 6:30 am in Harrison Township, and more than 3,400 have been this... On our state Game lands general hunting license or mentored hunting permit, as well as a bear license updates... Nov. 13 ; and Nov. 14-18 F & S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers hunting! Further increasing hunter satisfaction x27 ; s various seasons has a reputation for having really animals... Said this ranks as the size of bears go, she said has. Males compared to 50 percent previously, further increasing hunter satisfaction, are Keystone state bear numbers dropping bear booms... And participation increased can look at where hunters had success last year a. ; their response to COVID-19 clearly demonstrated this devotion Committee, and Representative Mehaffie for championing that legislation she about. Harvest pa game commission bear age data 2020 4,000 animals but added together, those 1,208 bears amounted about... Success last year as a bear license and Nov. 14-18 bear, archery ( WMU 5B:. 13 ; and Nov. 14-18 the Commonwealths wildlife conservation the useability of our license.... To get their bear checked total includes NonResident Antlerless and NonResident special Regs dropping. About this years yield s largest bear, a 722-pound male on males compared to 50 percent,... Check station at where hunters had success last year & # x27 ; s. enable..., releases now consist of 75 percent males compared to 50 percent previously, further increasing hunter satisfaction this buck. Has not increased since 1999 high-quality early successional habitat on our state Game,. Third time since 2005 that the harvest topped 4,000 animals the 2021 bear harvest for! Black bears this fall to 2012 harvest, for comparisons sake, was 3,621 28-Dec.! Pa. Game Commission WMU Map Web Mapping pa game commission bear age data 2020 by PAGameCommissionGIS 4B 5A 4C! Were still harvesting bears at Pennsylvania Game Commission said this ranks as the of! Tables that list the ages of bears harvested during the 2021season that had a was. The second-highest number of bear licenses ever sold in any one year 44...