HARRISBURG, Pa., April 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to official 2010 bear harvest figures released today by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, hunters took a total of 3,090, which included 269 bears during the first-ever, five-day statewide archery bear season and 2,821 bears during the statewide three-day season, which included a Saturday-opener.  

This harvest ranks fifth among Pennsylvania's annual bear harvests.  In 2005, hunters set a record harvest of 4,164 bears.  Other recent harvests were: 3,512 in 2009; 3,458 in 2008; 2,360 in 2007; 3,122 in 2006; 2,972 in 2004; 3,000 in 2003; 2,686 in 2002; 3,063 in 2001; and 3,075 in 2000.

In all, 11 bears taken by hunters weighed 600 pounds or more, further illustrating Pennsylvania's status as a major bear hunting destination.  

The bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) for both seasons (archery and  3-day), including 2009's harvest results in parentheses, were: WMU 1A, 11 (8); WMU 1B, 42 (36); WMU 2A, 1 (0); WMU 2C, 307 (247); WMU 2D, 146 (128); WMU 2E, 94 (77); WMU 2F, 202 (282); WMU 2G, 894 (1,027); WMU 3A, 199 (255); WMU 3B, 234 (292); WMU 3C, 118 (73); WMU 3D, 284 (276); WMU 4A, 135 (125); WMU 4B, 55 (43); WMU 4C, 90 (141); WMU 4D, 245 (442); WMU 4E, 31 (58); and WMU 5C, 2 (1).

Bears were taken in 54 counties. In 2008 and 2009, bears were taken in 54 counties and, in 49 counties in 2007. Harvest by county and region, with 2009's figure in parenthesis, were:

Northwest: Venango, 57 (33); Warren, 54 (101); Clarion, 49 (48); Forest, 47 (60); Jefferson, 34 (59); Crawford, 10 (8); Butler, 12 (13); Mercer, 2 (3); and Erie, 3 (0).

Southwest: Fayette, 101 (72); Somerset, 83 (72); Westmoreland, 62 (65); Armstrong, 56 (44); Indiana, 43 (33); and Cambria, 18 (19).

Northcentral: Clinton, 250 (295); Lycoming, 230 (280); Tioga, 184 (217); Cameron, 138 (214); Potter, 148 (181); Centre, 119 (148); McKean, 92 (142); Clearfield, 182 (135); Elk, 89 (121); and Union, 46 (51).

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 95 (110); Bedford, 84 (65); Mifflin, 43 (64); Blair, 31 (44); Juniata, 19 (33); Snyder, 19 (23); Fulton, 11 (16); Perry, 17 (8); Franklin, 8 (5); and Cumberland, 1 (0).

Northeast: Pike, 134 (117); Monroe, 69 (77); Bradford, 38 (74); Sullivan, 57 (68); Carbon, 35 (66); Luzerne, 58 (56); Wayne, 93 (49); Wyoming, 22 (44); Lackawanna, 19 (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).

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission