Initial statewide bear harvest results are in, and so far it appears hunters harvested about 200 fewer bears this year compared to last.
The state game commission says 1,015 bears were harvested statewide during the four-day opening of black bear season, which is a slight decrease over 2018 when 1,241 were taken.
With archery and other early-bear season figures included in this report, that total rises to nearly 2,900. Bears have been harvested in 50 counties so far this year, including Butler- where 15 bears were taken this year compared to 10 last year.
The largest bear harvested was a 813-pound male taken with a rifle in Monroe County. Extended bear season continues in parts of northwestern Pennsylvania including neighboring Venango County beginning this Saturday through Saturday, December 7th.