Bear population thriving
Season starts Monday; hunters should do well

A thriving black bear population awaits hunters in the region this year.

The regular three-day firearms season is Nov. 19-21, the three days before Thanksgiving.

"Our bear hunting should be excellent," said Mark Fair, one of the Pa. Game Commission wildlife conservation officers serving the local region. "Even after a record harvest this past season, bear nuisance complaints continue to increase."

WCO Doty McDowell said the bear population in his district is in excellent shape.

"We have some big numbers," McDowell said. "With such large tracts of state land, much of it not accessible by vehicles, the bear hunting in my district is superb."

Bill Ragosta, whose district covers northern Potter and McKean counties, agrees.

"Much of the farm country seems to be ignored by bear hunters," he pointed out. "The animals are present in good numbers."

Bear kill figures dropped off considerably in Cameron County last year to 70 after a harvest of 172 in 2005. Potter County hunters took 189 in 2006; they killed 214 the year before. McKean County held fairly steady at 139 last year and 146 the previous season.

Pennsylvania has been supporting a bear population of roughly 15,000 since 2000. Bear numbers have substantially increased in size and distribution over the past two decades. In recent years, an average of 3,500 bears have been taken by hunters.