Prospects Good For Monday's Bear Season

Hunters can expect to find a sizeable black bear population in Cameron, Potter and other northcentral counties when they go afield next week.

Pa. Game Commission bear biologist Mark Ternent is forecasting a statewide kill of upwards of 3,000 bears, on the heels of last year's record 4,164.

The traditional firearms season runs statewide next Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 20-22.

An extended bear season runs concurrently with deer season (Nov. 27 to Dec. 2) in selected areas of the state. Last week's story listing all of Cameron County and the section of Potter County located south of Rt. 6 as a part of the extended season was in error.

Cameron County is always a top producer and should be again this year, said Wildlife Conservation Office Colleen M. Shannon.

WCO Stephen Gehringer of Potter County said bear sightings and nuisance complaints remain high.

"The key to a good harvest is plenty of food to keep the bears active and good weather to keep the hunters active," Gehringer said. "Hunters should use organized drives and hunt the thickest cover possible: Those bears will lie low and will not move unless they are pushed out."

John Dzemyan, WCO of Elk/ McKean counties, agreed:

"With less mast this year compared to last year, it will take more effort to get bears moving, since they probably will not be as active as last year. Those who hunt in groups in the thick timber cuts with regeneration should do better."

Across the region, fall foods - acorns, beechnuts, apples, corn - are still adequate to keep bears out of dens and on the move.

Last year, the top five harvest counties were: Lycoming, 313 (244 the previous year); Tioga, 242 (119); Clinton, 227 (218); Potter, 214 (87); and Cameron, 172 (95).