Pennsylvania Game News - November 2019 - 12

mange symptoms still are required to tag
and transport it to a check station. In some
cases, a replacement bear license might
be available.

SEASON PROSPECTS
With bears available in most counties,
and the new and expanded bear seasons
offering unprecedented bear hunting in
Penn's Woods, these are exciting times
for bear hunters.
If weather doesn't compromise general-season opening-day expectations
and the October seasons provide their
expected bump, Pennsylvania's eightyear-old bear harvest record could be in
jeopardy.
But Ternent is quick to point out that
the state's antlerless whitetail muzzleloader and special-firearms seasons have
a history of drawing only limited numbers
of hunters.
"We don't know exactly how many
hunters will participate in the new October
bear seasons, but it'll be a special opportunity for those who go," he said. "Doubling
the length of the archery bear season
also provides a much longer window for
archers to be successful."
Fortunately, Pennsylvania has one of
the best bear-monitoring programs in
the country, so if harvest goes too far, the

BACK FROM THE BRINK
Bears now occupy more of Pennsylvania
than at any other time since the Game
Commission's inception in 1895, said
agency bear biologist Mark Ternent. They've
recovered from widespread declines in the
late 1800s and early 1900s that kept numbers
low into the 1970s. But things started to
change around 1981, and today, bears occupy
most of Pennsylvania's available habitat and
the state is known for the huge bears it grows.

agency can respond quickly with adjustments the following year, said Ternent.
But, given that harvest the last few years
has fallen short of objective, the agency is
excited to offer hunters more opportunity.
Hunters historically have removed
about 20 percent of the bear population
through seasonal harvests. Following that
calculation, the Game Commission has
expected a harvest the past few years to
be closer to 4,000 bears. That was without
2019's expanded seasons.
So, imagine for a moment what doubling the number of bear-hunting days and
starting bear hunting almost two weeks
earlier than in the past will do.
Given the crowd those additional
options might draw, they could redefine
how bears are hunted in Penn's Woods.
We'll soon know.

Cover Painting by bob SoPChiCk
You're the flanker in the woods on an organized drive pushing through
when this giant steps out. You can't believe your eyes! He's testing the
wind after sneaking out the drive's "side door." The drivers are unaware
that he gave them the slip, but someone will soon cut his huge tracks in
the snow, unless they hear the crack of your .30-06 first.
A limited edition of 125 canvas prints of "Big Woods Bruin" are available
from the artist. The 14- by 21-inch prints sell for $100, which includes sales
tax and shipping. Order from Bob Sopchick at 200 Wynwood Road, York,
PA 17402. For more information email Bob at sopchickstudios@msn.com.

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Pennsylvania Game News - November 2019

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