Pennsylvania hunters have harvested nearly 1,500 bears through the first three days of bear season.
The state game commission says that’s a decrease of about 300 bears compared to the same time period last year.
However, factoring in the new and expanded early bear seasons for muzzleloader, firearms, and archery, a total of nearly 3,400 bears have been taken this year which is more than all of last year.
There have been 20 bears harvested in Butler County so far compared to 17 last year. The state’s heaviest bear- a male estimated at over 800 pounds- was taken with a rifle on opening day in Monroe County.