That was down slightly from 220,471 in 2020, but still the second-highest number of bear licenses ever sold in any one year. - Those looking to track Pennsylvania's 2020 bear harvest can find harvest totals, breakdowns by county and season, and a list of the 10 heaviest bears harvested so far by visiting the Game Commission's website. The Game Commission supports opening additional Sundays to hunting and welcomes the opportunity to work with this Committee to craft legislation giving full authority to the Board of Commissioners to offer additional Sunday hunting opportunities. Based on science and input from various content experts like Dr. Krysten Schuler from Cornell University and Dr. Bryan Richards from the United States Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, state agencies from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois, supporting partners like the Wildlife Futures Program and the National Deer Association, and months of public comment, the plan sets forth a clear path forward for minimizing the impact of this disease to our deer herd. Bear numbers saw similar declines after high harvests from 2005 to 2007 and 2010 to 2012. Nov 22, 2022. Hunters should also go into the woods with a plan for how to get a bear out if they harvest one. The extended bear season which last year for the first time allowed hunters to harvest bears throughout the opening weekend of deer season in some Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) contributed 1,128 animals to the harvest. Like everyone, The Game Commission faced many challenges and unique obstacles in 2020, but our employees found ways to ensure our hunting and trapping seasons, state game lands, wildlife conservation programs and other services we provide met the needs of Pennsylvanians and the wildlife we manage. 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. Pleaserefrain from namingthe sow and her cubs to respect them as wild animals. April 17, 2023 |The Realblog with Stephanie Mallory. The archery bear season produced 672 bears, while the muzzleloader and special firearms seasons chipped in 536. Public access to the station will be limited this year due to COVID-19 regulations. "Hunters are picking and choosing which. Weve got lots of bears, and lots of big ones, and hunters can pick and choose when and how they want to pursue them. Keystone State. Only hunters with harvests will be allowed in the checking area. But we dont have the authority to manage our hunting licenses. BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D):Nov. 26, Sunday, Nov. 27, Nov. 28-Dec. 10. For example, our staff developed and launched the Wildlife on WiFi, or WoW, an innovative program to provide home-based learning content during the states stay-at-home orders. These enhancements increase not only the useability of our ranges, but also allow us to maintain them more efficiently. Creamy Hungarian Turkey Leg and Mushroom Soup, Preparing for the Beginning of Another Archery Season, North American Super Slam: 29 Big Game Animals You Need, Strut Report: Southern Hunters Successful Despite Cold and Wind, Wyoming and Colorado Wildlife Managers Adjust Hunting License and Season Proposals Due to Harsh Winter, 8 Reasons You Wont Kill a Public-Land Gobbler. 1,243 were here. COVID-19 did increase the demands placed on the Game Commission. Five whopper Pennsylvania bull elk are in this year's state record book, including the new state #1 non-typical, 455-inch bull elk taken in 2020 in Elk County by hunter Duane Kramer. HARRISBURG, PA - Pennsylvania bear hunters had quite the year in 2021. The board also expanded the length of the bear season, providing for the bear archery season to take place for three full weeks in 2020. Bears have cubs every other year making management a long-term planning goal. Fredrick Kyss took this 202-plus buck in the 1960s. But added together, those seasons provide a lot of opportunity. Thirty-one of the agencys 134 game warden districts were vacant and dependent upon wardens in neighboring districts for coverage. I am pleased to report that two dogs have successfully passed the first phases of this pilot research and have shown that they can detect CWD infected samples and are now entering the final trial. 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. Bear - Regular Firearms. The locations of those are listed on page 41 of the Hunting & Trapping Digest every hunter gets when buying a license. "As a cost-cutting measure, the Game Commission no longer mails a certificate and letter to successful bear hunters notifying them of their bear's age," said Carl G. Roe, agency executive director. There are about 20,000 black bears in Pennsylvania, and more than 3,400 have been harvested this year. Best of all, the future continues to look bright for this resource, too.. Where to find bears:Black bear opportunities abound in Pennsylvania. Start of season:Hunters are finding large bears across Pennsylvania. This limits our ability to prepare for the future and the growing challenges our agency faces. Combined, those 1,208 bears amounted to about one-third of the total 2021 harvest. April 12, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, April 5, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, Pennsylvania Game Commission Posts Bear Age Data On Website. To access the data and learn the age of their bear, a hunter will need to have their legal seal number from the check station certificate. To access the database, click on "Hunt/Trap" in the menu bar at the top of the page, click on "Hunting," scroll down and click on "Black Bear" in the "Big Game" listing, and then scroll down and click on "Black Bear Age Data" in the "Reference" listing. HARRISBURG, PA - Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans today presented the agencys annual report to the General Assembly, and delivered testimony before the House Game and Fisheries Committee. The accident occurred around 6:30 am in Harrison Township, and the driver was not injured. Our grouse biologist, Lisa Williams, was awarded the Association of Fish and Wildlife Associations Ernest Thompson Seton Award, given to to the state, provincial, or federal agency which has best promoted a public awareness of the need to support the science and practice of wildlife management. Additionally, the Game Commission development team, including Lisa, that developed this siting tool received the Governors Award for Excellence for their collaboration on developing this novel tool. 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. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Yet, the state Game Commission charged him with poaching, killing out of season what was described as the largest bear ever seen in the county. Statewide. The G-PAST is now being used by other state wildlife agencies to assist their efforts to enhance grouse populations. 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. This live stream from Pike County is brought to you by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and HDOnTap.. As we move through March, the cubs will become more visible and active; early in the . According to the commission, nine of the 10 largest harvests of bears occurred in the last 13 years, with the 2020 harvest of 3,621 bears ranking 6th. Of the samples collected so far this year, 196 were positive for CWD. We agree with this assessment, and share the concerns raised in the audit report. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Check out this video, Steelhead anglers savor mild weather in Erie County creeks, Pa. hunter reflects on whats in a name, harvests 3 deer, bear this fall, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The average over the last 10 to 15 years has been a little over 3,000 bears. This must not be more than 3 inches . The 2021-2022 Bear Age Table is sorted by . Hunters harvested 3,659 bears in 2021. As was the case last year, its essentially offering three. Large-scale prescribed fire will be incorporated into each of these areas to ensure that the highest-quality habitats can be maintained on site. If you happened to drive by any of the more than 300 game lands found in 65 counties across the state, chances are you noticed parking spaces were at a premium. Watch this highlight of the three bear cubs and their mother leaving the den to venture out into the woods nearby, this footage was taken a day before the bear family vacated the den for the season. Sign up for Outdoor stories:Go Outdoors PA free newsletter. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. PA Game Commission photo. As such, the sources of revenue are trending toward an overreliance on extraction of natural resources.. The harvest is being distributed over a variety of seasons, Emily Carrollo, bear biologist for the Game Commission, said in a telephone interview. 2020 Pa. bear harvest drops by 1,000 from 2019 but still ranks 6th in state history. The board extended archery deer season further into the rut than ever before. Pennsylvania's Board of Game Commissioners today approved two land acquisitions and a real-estate exchange that together would add about 19 acres to the state game lands system. In the past, when there was only a rifle bear season, the check stations received more bear over a shorter window. Hunters have encountered some large bruins. Hunters should call the aforementioned numbers to get their bear checked. For ages of bears with legal seals #4411-2105019, For ages of bears with legal seals #2105020 2109264, For ages of bears with legal seals #2109265 21158652, For ages of bears harvested in the NW region, For ages of bears harvested in the SW region, For ages of bears harvested in the NC region, For ages of bears harvested in the SC region, For ages of bears harvested in the NE region, For ages of bears harvested in the SE region, Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). This change was implemented in 2020 and was met with great enthusiasm by hunters who have sought the chance to hunt on Sundays for several decades. Bear season opensNov. 21, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission is adding anew feature on its website. 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). (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). The plan incorporates measurable goals and objectives along with an adaptive approach to ensure appropriate and effective responses are implemented. A total of 215,219 people bought a bear license in 2021; that was not far off 2020's record sales of 220,471. Recent years have seen a record kill in 2019 with 4,653 and annual harvests well above the 3,000 mark. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. We are projecting to pull an additional $15 million from reserve for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and slightly over $9 million from reserve for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The map will constantly update with hunters checking in their bears. Moreover, releases now consist of 75 percent males compared to 50 percent previously, further increasing hunter satisfaction. The legislative proposals I mentioned are an extension of those earlier efforts and will allow us to complete the process of modernizing the agency, putting us on a solid footing to meet the challenges ahead. HARRISBURG, PA - Pennsylvania bear hunters had quite the year in 2021. And on Thursday, Myers was found guilty of the . Again, congratulations on taking an outstanding trophy from Penn's Woods and for being an important part of our hunting heritage. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Biologists don't seem concerned, By Ursus americanusSeasons and Bag Limits: 2022-23Digest, Black Bear Section. Available for Sale. The regular bear season, meanwhile true to form contributed the biggest portion of the harvest. The 2022-23 bear harvest was approximately 25% lower than the harvest the previous year and 29% lower than the previous 5-year average during 2017-2021. Bears were taken in 59 of 67 counties and 22 of Pennsylvanias 23 Wildlife Management Units in the 2021 seasons. 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. The report also noted that Pennsylvania is second in the nation for antlered deer harvested per square mile, and first in the nation in overall deer harvested per square mile. Lycoming County gave up 211 bears to rank first among counties for bear harvest in 2021. In both years, only white-tailed deer put more hunters in the woods. 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. Learn I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Pennsylvanias bear population has grown and spread over the past 40 years. This final trial will focus on CWD detection in field situations. In the long term, an overreliance on natural-resource development puts the Commission in a vulnerable financial situation, as a downturn in those markets would threaten the Commissions financial wellbeing and, in turn, the important services we provide. Sullivan had 127, Wayne came in at 119, Centre had 116 and Huntingdon roundedout the Top 10 list with 115 bears this fall. Carollo sees no cause for alarm. In all these areas, the increase in participation resulted in an increase in the responsibilities and workload on our employees. The population increases and decreases depending on a variety of factors. The sow and three cubs departed on March 25 at 7:35pm EST. 1B 2F 3A 2H 2G 2E 2C 4D 4A 4B 5A 5B 4C 4E 3B 3C 3D 5C 5D 1A 2A 2B 2D. Wade Glessner of Shippensburg used a shotgun to take the year's largest bear, a 722-pound male on. Hunters harvested an estimated 376,810 white-tailed deer. The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Game Commission have teamed up to create a new interactive map specifically for hunters. Since 1992, seven black bears weighing at least 800 pounds have been lawfully harvested in Pennsylvania hunting seasons. The certificates issued in 2009 were printed and distributed prior to the agency's transition to a new website format, which has significantly changed the navigation features of the new website. Funds from the RMEF were used to improve elk habitat and the revenue from KECA were used for wildlife-conservation education and elk-habitat improvement in the elk range. The extended season ended Saturday in some areas, but the final number may continue to climb as bear hunting is still permitted through Saturday in Wildlife Management Units 2B,5B, 5C and 5D. The heaviest bear ever taken in Pennsylvania was an 875-pounder harvested in 2010 in Middle Smithfield Township, Pike County. In 2020, Saturday and Sunday of the season saw 908 bears brought to the check stations. BLACK BEAR (Statewide):Nov. 19; Sunday, Nov. 20; and Nov. 21-22. With the pandemic forcing many forms of recreation and entertainment to shut down, visitors to our state game lands system increased dramatically. 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. We met that challenge head-on. On average, each full-time warden was responsible for covering more than 400 square miles. Those bears came from across the seasons. Of the cases prosecuted by wardens, the success rate was 96.6 percent, which is testament to their training and professionalism. Where to find bears: Black bear opportunities abound in Pennsylvania The average over the last 10 to 15 years has been a little over 3,000 bears. As of Tuesday, Dec. 1, a combined total of 3,178 bears were harvested statewide (17 Early Archery Season, 1,965 Combined Seasons, 1,167 Firearms Season and 29 Extended Season). In reflecting on this autumns season, she feels positive about whats happening with bears. 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 current mail-in approach is completely outdated, unpopular, and provides no benefit to our customers. Over the past decade, and largely under the leadership of Chairman Gillespie, we have worked with this Committee to implement important legislative changes. None of that is to say every bear hunter who hits the woods will fill their tag. 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? 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