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Bear hunters have 7th-best success rate
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the 3,366 bears taken in 2014 are No. 7 on the all-time list, with the top seven seasons all occurring in the past decade.
Hunters set the all-time record in 2011 by taking 4,350 bears, which was nearly 200 more than the No. 2 ranking of 4,164 taken in 2005. Ranking No. 3 are the 3,623 taken in 2012; No. 4 are the 3,512 taken in 2009; ranking No. 5 are the 3,510 taken in 2013; and ranking No. 6 are the 3,458 taken in 2008.
Bears were taken in 56 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties in 2014, an increase compared to 2013, when bears were taken in 53 counties. Bears were taken in 21 of the state’s 23 Wildlife Management Units, also an increase compared to 2013, when bears were taken in 20 WMUs.
Lycoming County, perennially among the top counties for bear, again led the way with 286 taken in 2014, up from 234 the previous year. Among other top counties are: Tioga, 274 (286 in 2013); Clinton, 179 (133); Potter 157 (196); and Centre, 117 (96).
Final totals for regional counties with 2013 totals in parentheses are: Luzerne, 74 (98); Carbon, 47 (57); Schuylkill, 39 (35); Dauphin, 35 (23); Columbia, 23 (24); Northumberland, 8 (14); Berks, 6 (4); and Montour, 1 (0).
Forty-one bears harvested by hunters in 2014 weighed 500 pounds or more.
The heaviest bear in the harvest, taken in Pittsfield Township, Warren County, by James M. Hultberg, of Pittsfield, weighed an estimated 677 pounds.
Colorado guide guest on outdoors program
Colorado hunting guide Dave Guillams of Backcountry Outfitters is today’s guest of Republican-Herald/News-Item outdoors editor Doyle Dietz on “Experience The Outdoors,” winner of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association award for best outdoors radio program, 7-7:30 a.m. on WLSH 1410-AM, 9:30-10 a.m. on WMGH, Magic 105.5-FM, and on the Web at www.wmgh.com by clicking the “Experience The Outdoors” link.
Banquets
Saturday, March 14: Sweet Arrow Lake County Park Pancake Breakfast, 7:30-11 a.m., Sweet Arrow Lake clubhouse, Pine Grove. Schuylkill Spurs NWTF Chapter Heritage Banquet, 5 p.m., Community Fire Company, Landingville; for information and tickets, contact, Jeff Post at (570) 366-7783 or Mike Corbin at (570) 929-1622. United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania, 6 p.m., Sheraton Hotel, 4650 Lindle Road, Harrisburg; for information call (800) 279-2024 or access website at www.ubpofpa.org.
Today’s events
Schuylkill Trout Unlimited free fly tying for beginners, noon-4 p.m., Arts Center, Tamaqua. “Molly Maguire Meander,” 1:30-4 p.m., Tamaqua, meet at Tamaqua Public Library, South Railroad St.
This week’s events
• Tuesday: Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited meeting, 6 p.m., Amvets, 13th and Seneca streets, Pottsville; for information, contact Tony Mione at (717) 979-0235 or email tonymione@outlook.com.
• Thursday-Sunday: Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks; for information and tickets, access the website at www.sportshows.com; hours: Thursday and Friday, noon-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday: Cabin Fever Hike, 9-10 a.m., Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove, meet at Waterfall Road parking lot. Fly tying for beginners, noon to 3 p.m., Gordon Borough Hall, ages 8 and older; for registration and information, contact John Towey at (570) 205-2682. Schuylkill Chapter Pheasants Forever Banquet, 5 p.m., Community Fire Company, Landingville; for reservations, contact Lou Dallatore at (570) 345-4337.
• Sunday, March 1: Schuylkill TU free fly tying for beginners, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Cabela’s Hamburg; for required preregistration and information, contact Tony Mione at (717) 979-0235 or email tonymione@outlook.com. Port Clinton Fish and Game meeting, noon; for information, contact Ted Knoblauch at (610) 562-4310 or e-mail pcfg1j@yahoo.com.
— Compiled by Doyle Dietz