AmmoLand.com

Pennsylvania Preliminary 2010 Bear Harvest Ranks Seventh

David Price, of Cresco, Monroe County, harvested the largest bear taken during all bear seasons, which he took using a bow and arrow. The male bear weighing an estimated 875 pounds.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- With 224 bears taken during the first-ever statewide, five-day archery bear season, and 2,815 bears taken during the restructured three-day bear season, which included a Saturday-opener, Pennsylvania Game Commission preliminary harvest reports show that bear hunters harvested a preliminary total of 3,039 bears in 53 counties.

Official total bear harvest figures won’t be available until early 2011, after a detailed review of each harvest report is completed.

In the 2005 bear season, hunters harvested a record 4,164 bears. Other recent bear harvests include: 3,512 in 2009; 3,460 in 2008; 2,362 in 2007; 3,124 in 2006; 2,977 in 2004; 3,000 in 2003; 2,686 in 2002; 3,063 in 2001; 3,075 in 2000; 1,740 in 1999; and 2,598 in 1998.

For the first time, Game Commission employees working to gather data at the bear check stations were using new technology to record harvest information. This new approach was designed to improve the processing of bears so that hunters could get in and out of check stations quickly and improve accuracy in data collection. Despite this improvement in timely and accurate processing, the new system did lead to a delay in the release of harvest results.

“While we recognize there is enormous public interest in bear harvest information, our primary responsibility is to accommodate successful hunters and to record harvest information accurately and efficiently,” said Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director. “The current number and distribution of bear check stations put virtually every successful hunter within a one-hour drive of a check station.

“We also are striving to embrace technological efficiencies for data capture and to minimize processing times. In that regard, we are headed in the right direction, as the lines at bear check stations moved much quicker this year for the hunters. We’re already looking at ways to improve the process and expedite the release of harvest data next year.”

DuBrock noted that, according to the harvest data, the day-by-day archery bear harvest results are as follows: 90 bears harvested on Nov. 15; 32 on Nov. 16; 26 on Nov. 17; 23 on Nov. 18; and 53 on Nov. 19.

For the three-day general bear season, 1,751 bears were harvested on Nov. 20; 793 on Nov. 22; and 271 on Nov. 23. In 2005, when the record bear harvest of 4,164 bears was set, hunters harvested 2,026 bears on the opening of day of the three-day season. Other first-day preliminary harvests for three-day statewide seasons were: 1,897 in 2009; 1,725 in 2008; 1,005 in 2007; 1,461 in 2006; 1,573 in 2004; 1,454 in 2003;1,348 2002; 1,812 in 2001; and 1,691 in 2000.

The preliminary bear harvests by Wildlife Management Unit (with 2009 figures in parentheses) were: WMU 1A, 11 (8); WMU 1B, 42 (36); WMU 2A, 1 (0); WMU 2C, 307 (247); WMU 2D, 145 (128); WMU 2E, 93 (77); WMU 2F, 199 (282); WMU 2G, 892 (1,027); WMU 3A, 198 (255); WMU 3B, 232 (292); WMU 3C, 108 (73); WMU 3D, 256 (276); WMU 4A, 135 (125); WMU 4B, 53 (43); WMU 4C, 90 (141); WMU 4D, 244 (442); WMU 4E, 31 (58); and WMU 5C, 2 (1).

The top five bear harvest counties this year, once again, all come from the Northcentral Region. The top county was Clinton, with 248 (295 in 2009); followed by: Lycoming, 228 (280); Tioga, 183 (217); Clearfield, 182 (135); and Potter 148 (181).

Preliminary county harvests by region (with 2009 figures in parentheses) are:

• Northwest: Venango, 56 (33); Warren, 54 (101); Clarion, 47 (48); Forest, 47 (60); Jefferson, 33 (59); Butler, 12 (13); Crawford, 10 (8); Erie, 3 (0); and Mercer, 2 (3).
• Southwest: Fayette, 101 (72); Somerset, 83 (72); Westmoreland, 62 (65); Armstrong, 56 (44); Indiana, 42 (33); and Cambria, 18 (19).
• Northcentral: Clinton, 248 (295); Lycoming, 228 (280); Tioga, 183 (217); Clearfield, 182 (135); Potter 148 (181); Cameron, 138 (214); Centre, 118 (148); McKean, 92 (142); Elk, 89 (121); and Union, 46 (51).
• Southcentral: Huntingdon, 95 (110); Bedford, 84 (65); Mifflin, 41 (64); Blair, 31 (44); Juniata, 19 (33); Snyder, 19 (23); Perry, 17 (8); Fulton, 11 (16); Franklin, 8 (5); Cumberland, 1 (0).
• Northeast: Pike, 122 (117); Bradford, 38 (74); Monroe, 57 (77); Sullivan, 57 (68); Carbon, 35 (66); Luzerne, 58 (56); Wayne, 82 (49); Wyoming, 22 (44); Lackawanna, 16 (32); Susquehanna, 41 (30); Columbia, 20 (27); Northumberland, 3 (6); and Montour, 1 (1).
• Southeast: Schuylkill, 27 (37); Dauphin, 20 (24); Lebanon, 7 (8); Berks, 2 (7); and Northampton, 7 (5).

According to preliminary reports, the top 10 legal bears processed at check stations for the two bear seasons all had actual or estimated live weights that exceeded 615 pounds, and 37 bears weighing 500 pounds or more were legally harvested.

David Price, of Cresco, Monroe County, harvested the largest bear taken during all bear seasons, which he took using a bow and arrow. The male bear weighing an estimated 875 pounds was taken in WMU 3D, Monroe County, Middle Smithfield Township, at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 15.

While many have reported this as a “record bear,” for Pennsylvania’s official Big Game Records, the Game Commission only recognizes skull measurements based on Boone & Crockett scoring methods. Although weights are not included in the Game Commission’s Big Game Records tabulations, this was the heaviest bear ever harvested in Pennsylvania.

Randy Chabol, of Somerset, Somerset County, harvested the largest bear during the regular three-day season, which was a male that had an estimated live weight of 772 pounds. The bear was taken in WMU 2C, Somerset County, Larimer Township, at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 20.

Rounding out the top 10 were: a 694-pound male (actual live weight) taken in WMU 2D, Indiana County, Armstrong Township, by Christopher Schultheis, of Kittanning, at 10 a.m. on Nov. 20; a 679-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in WMU 2C, Indiana County, West Wheatfield Township, by Ronald Chero, of Homer City, at 3 p.m., on Nov. 23; a 675-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in WMU 3D, Pike County, Blooming Grove Township, by Brett Treichler, of Kutztown, at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 20; a 666-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in WMU 2G, Centre County, Burnside Township, by David Mihalik, of Howard, at 4 p.m. on Nov. 20; a 656-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in WMU 3B, Sullivan County, Forks Township, by George Mosier III, of New Albany, at 2 p.m. on Nov. 22; a 645-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in WMU 3C, Wayne County, Clinton Township, by Diane Booths, of Lake Ariel, at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 20; a 616-pound male (estimated live weight) also taken in WMU 3C, Wayne County, Buckingham Township, by Mark Soden, of Honesdale, at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 20; and a 616-pound male (estimated live weight) taken in WMU 3D, Pike County, Porter Township, by David Mohn, of Robesonia, at 7:10 a.m. on Nov. 20.

Filed under: Hunting News by Ammoland No Comments »

NJ DEP Rejects Request to Postpone Bear Hunt
Check this video, this is the craziness hunters are faced with in NJ..apparently bears are not dangerous, who new,,LOL (Video add by AmmoLand, not NJDEP)

New Jersey Fish and Game

Trenton, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin today rejected a request for a stay of a scheduled Northwest New Jersey bear hunt, which is authorized under the State’s recently adopted Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy (CBBMP).

The Commissioner, responding to a Nov. 17 written request by the Animal Protection League of New Jersey and the Bear Education and Resource Group, declined to postpone an upcoming six-day hunt scheduled for a seven-county region, including parts of Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Passaic, Morris, Somerset and Bergen counties, that is scheduled to start Dec 6.

“The facts are clear, we have an overpopulation of black bears in New Jersey, and we must address that issue,” said Commissioner Martin. “A regulated black bear hunt is one important and necessary tool to deal with the growing number of bears, as part of the State’s overall, comprehensive approach to managing its black bear population.”

The most recent black bear population estimate for the portion of New Jersey north of Interstate 80 is approximately 3,400 animals, which is a marked rise from less than 500 in the mid-1990s. Bears also have been reported in all 21 counties, with a corresponding rise in bear complaints.

Commissioner Martin, in a letter sent today to the two groups that appealed the hunt, also confirmed the accuracy of the DEP’s data on bear complaints and bear-human encounters caused by the increasing black bear population, despite contrary public claims of inflated numbers made by Rutgers chemistry professor Edward Tavss.

A thorough review of bear complaints for 2008 and 2009 by the DEP’s Office of Audit showed virtually no duplication of complaint reports and verified the accuracy of the information provided in the Black Bear Management Policy, said Commissioner Martin. The audit showed that less than 1 percent of about 3,000 bear complaints registered by DEP in each of those years may have resulted from duplication of information.

“I have reviewed your request and I find that it does not provide any basis to stay the hunt, nor does it raise any legitimate questions about the inclusion of a black bear hunt in the State’s Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy,” wrote Commissioner Martin. “Professor Tavss’ allegations challenging the accuracy of the Department’s black bear incident data are unfounded and, quite simply, wrong.”

The Commissioner stressed the DEP is gathering more and better information on black bears, providing a valuable resource that contributes to the Department’s black bear management efforts.

Commissioner Martin denied the request to stay the hunt after consulting with New Jersey Fish and Game Council Acting Chairwoman Jeanette Vreeland, who also was petitioned to postpone the hunt. Vreeland concurred with the Commissioner, but noted a vote of the full Council, which adopted the CBBMP in July, is required to formalize her position. A telephone meeting of the Council soon will be held to deal with that issue, Vreeland said.

The Fish and Game Council in July adopted a comprehensive policy that includes a black bear hunt in North Jersey for the first time since 2005, to deal with an overpopulation of bears and problems they are causing, especially in northern parts of the State.

The Fish and Game Council cited increasing damage to personal property and threats to public safety as key reasons for the policy. Since the 1980s, New Jersey’s black bear population has been increasing and expanding southward and eastward from forested areas of northwestern New Jersey. There have been increased sightings of bears this year in suburban and urban areas, where black bears previously were not encountered.

The CBBMP offers a common sense mix of bear management tools that, in addition to a hunt, includes public education, research, bear habitat analysis and protection, non-lethal bear management techniques and enhanced efforts to keep human food sources, especially household trash, away from bears to limit bear-human encounters.

The black bear hunt is scheduled to run concurrent with the six-day firearm deer hunting season in portions of a 1,000 square-mile area north of Route 78 and west of Route 287.

• To view the Nov. 17 letter and Commissioner Martin’s Nov. 22 response, visit:

  http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/bearpolicy10.htm

• To review the Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/bearpolicy10.htm
• For tips on proper garbage management and coexisting with bears, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bearfacts_avoid.htm

Filed under: Ammoland TV, Hunting News by Ammoland 2 Comments »