This year’s bear harvest was down slightly compared to last year.
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the total number of bears harvested this year was 2,920—which is down about 250 from 2023.
Here in Butler County, there were a total of 29 bears taken down after 40 were harvested last year.
The largest bear taken of the season was a 691 pounder in Pike County.
This year ranked as the 4th most bear hunters during a season. The top season happened in 2019 when over 4,600 bears were harvested.