Pennsylvania's black bear population is estimated at 15,000 to 17,000 and rising while the harvest from the three-day statewide bear season has remained more or less consistent.

Two days into this year's hunt the unconfirmed harvest report showed about 200 more bears killed than during the 2008 season. The 2007 harvest of 1,638 may have been a low ebb anomaly. In 2006, 2,185 bears were tagged. In 2005, a state record of 2,875 were killed. 2004, 2,262; 2003, 2,299; 2002, 2022.

Terence J. Burkhardt, of Jim Thorpe, Pa., killed biggest bear shot this year -- a male with a live weight of 654 pounds on Nov. 23 in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County. Clinton County produced the most harvested bears with 219 killed (91 in 2008), followed by Lycoming, 201 (195); Tioga, 198 (205); Cameron, 196 (61); and Potter, with 154 (256). In southwest Pennsylvania, 61 bears were killed in Somerset, (83); Fayette, 56 (35); Westmoreland, 56 (32); Armstrong, 34 (44); Indiana, 23 (51); and Cambria, 12 (26).Arthur G. Clayton, of Amberson tagged a 588-pound male in Fannett Township, Franklin County, and Richard M. Smith, of Meyersdale, took a 570-pound male in Larimer Township, Somerset County.

Pennsylvania Game Commission figures show that in recent years hunters have killed more black bears than in any decade since bear harvest records began to be kept in 1915. Last year, more than 140,000 bear licenses were sold in Pennsylvania with a success rate of 3 percent.

Bear license holders who have yet to get a bear can participate in extended bear seasons scheduled to run during all or parts of firearms deer season. Check the details at Hunting and Trapping Digest www.pgc.state.pa.us.

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