From staff reports
As of Monday morning, the state’s 2019 preliminary bear harvest in some of the state’s Wildlife Management Units is at 4,577, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said in a news release.
The figure breaks the record of 4,350 bears taken in 2011. Bear season remains open through Saturday in some of the state’s Wildlife Management Units.
The Game Commission cited expanded hunting opportunities provided by new special-firearms and muzzleloader bear seasons, record bear license sales, and an expanded archery bear season as having helped set the record.
“Our goal was to offer more hunting opportunities and prevent Pennsylvania’s bear population from increasing,” Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said.
