Plan Now - Bear Hunting In Pennsylvania

Can't afford that guided hunt for a black bear? There is an alternative. Do a hunt in Pennsylvania. Not hard to do and the resources for planning are as close as your keyboard.

Pennsylvania for bears?

From last years press release from the Pennsylvania Game Commission:

"Pennsylvania’s black bear population has numbered 14,000 to 15,000 for at least eight years now," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "Because our bear population now covers almost three-quarters of the state – and includes a number of world-class trophy bears – Pennsylvania has become one of the top states for bear hunters. Every bear hunter heads afield in Pennsylvania knowing he or she has a chance to see a bear and to possibly take a huge one that weighs 700 to 800 pounds."

Pennsylvania’s primary bear season is three days, statewide, just prior to Thanksgiving, Nov. 24-26. There also is a two-day archery bear season in certain Wildlife Management Units .Additionally, concurrent with the first week of the firearms deer season, there is an extended season that in certain Wildlife Management Units .

The heaviest bears taken in Pennsylvania typically come from the state’s Northeast. However, the Southwest Region also is producing record-book black bears based on skull dimensions, which is the method used for official big game scoring and record keeping. In 2005, Andrew Seaman Jr. of Dunbar took a 733-pound black bear that had a skull measurement of 23and 3/16th inches that the Boone and Crockett Club now recognizes as tied for the world-record black bear killed legally by a hunter. The Fayette County bear is tied with a bear taken in California.

Planning And Assistance

Use HuntingPA.Com's message boards. Ask a questions and you'll be sure to get an answer and lots of options. Registration is free. We have a forum dedicated to Pennsylvania bear and elk hunting:

http://www.huntingpa.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=26&page=1

Hunting access is easy in Pennsylvania. The Game Commission operates over 1.4 million acres of land available for public hunting. The state forest system controls over 2.5 million acres of property, nearly all available for public hunting. Then, with a bit of additional effort, there are some 3.5 million acres available from private land owners in the Co-Op program.

A bear hunt in Pennsylvania is as easy as a ride, a motel room, or state park campground amenity, license - and desire. Make sure to bring that desire! 100% fair chase as no bait, or scents are allowed.

The following is from last falls Game Commission Press Release on bear hunting in Pennsylvania. It is a very informative outline on hunting bears in Pennsylvania. The dates are of course incorrect for the coming season, but other information is correct.

The Game commission website is also a good source of information. Maps of the game lands, license information, and other details are readily available.

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/

The 2008 Pennsylvania Game commission Bear hunting Press Release / Fact Sheet

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=175437

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Tags: Bear Hunting Pennsylvania Self Guided

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