Post by galthatfishes on Nov 11, 2012 12:51:44 GMT -5
Too many black bears?
By DAVE WOLF
Outdoorsldnews.com
Updated: 11/10/2012 05:48:05 PM EST
A road-killed bear may be an indication that the population is too high. (PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN WOLF)I have seen more bears than most - in the thick laurel, along an open shoreline and gathering acorns in the forest. Although black bears are reported by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to be at an all-time high here in PA, most hunters consider one a trophy of a lifetime.
Taking only one during all my years in the field, I have only a slight tugging to take another, perhaps, just one with my inline. But I also realize that the bulging bear population does not by any stretch of the imagination mean that I have a good chance of taking another. And, admittedly, I have only half-heartily hunted bear during the past two years.
Last year's harvest was the largest since the Commission began keeping records way back in 1915. In 2011, hunters harvested 4,350 bears.
But as usual, additional hunting opportunities are often within certain Wildlife Management Units. However, additional opportunities by an extended season do not mean there is an abundance of bear in that area.
For example, the PGC opened WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D to an extended bear season, which will run concurrently with the entire two-week deer season, Nov. 26-Dec. 8. This extended season is in addition to overlapping bear and deer hunting opportunities held in these four WMUs during the archery deer and early muzzleloader and firearms deer seasons.
Noting that only two bear were harvested in all four of these units, I called PGC spokesman Jerry Feaser to be sure the numbers were correct.
"Yes," he replied. "These areas are where we know that a single bear would create human conflicts, and it's a place where the food and habitat is not suitable for black bear. These seasons were approved by the Board of Game Commissioners as a means of achieving the agency's goal of reducing bear-human conflicts in these urbanized areas of southwestern and southeastern corners of the state."
Choosing where to hunt might depend on the hunter and how far he might want to travel, where his camp is located and how many hunters he can gather to put on drives, considered one of the most effective ways to harvest a bear. A look at last year's harvest should help the undecided.
According to the PGC, bears were taken in 54 counties last year, which was the same as 2008, 2009 and 2010 but an increase from 2007, when bears were taken in 49 counties. The 2011, bear harvest by WMU for both the archery and four-day bear seasons, including 2010's harvest results in parentheses, were: WMU 1A, 13 (11); WMU 1B, 64 (42); WMU 2A, 0 (1); WMU 2B, 1 (0); WMU 2C, 226 (307); WMU 2D, 150 (146); WMU 2E, 79 (94); WMU 2F, 345 (202); WMU 2G, 1,086 (894); WMU 3A, 564 (199); WMU 3B, 479 (234); WMU 3C, 299 (118); WMU 3D, 318 (284); WMU 4A, 72 (135); WMU 4B, 70 (55); WMU 4C, 148 (90); WMU 4D, 355 (245); WMU 4E, 79 (31); WMU 5A, 1 (0); and WMU 5C, 1 (2).
Managing bears is not an easy task, and one would have thought that "bear proofing" the trash receptacles at state parks and fencing municipal dumpsters would have helped. But in reality, although it may have helped reduce human conflicts with bears, it has done little to keep populations in check.
One guess of mine is that good food supplies, coupled with mild winters, have fostered an excellent population.
The statewide archery bear season, which will be held Nov. 12-16, will lead up to the four-day statewide bear season, which will open on Saturday, Nov. 17, and then run from Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 19-21. The extended bear seasons will be held in certain WMUs and portions of WMUs the following week during deer season.
In WMUs 3D, 4C, 4D and 4E, an extended bear season is open Nov. 28-Dec. 1. An extended bear season also will be held Nov. 26-Dec. 1 in the following: All of WMUs 3A and 3C; portions of WMU 3B, that are east of Route 14 from Troy to Canton, East of Route 154 from Canton to Route 220 at Laporte and east of Route 42 from Laporte to Rt. 118, and that portion of WMU 4E, east of Route 42; and portions of WMU 2G in Lycoming and Clinton counties and WMU 3B in Lycoming County that lie north of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from the Route 405 Bridge, west to Route 15 at Williamsport, Route 15 to Route 220, and north of Route 220 to the Mill Hall exit, north of SR 2015 to Route 150.
Also, east of Route 150 to Lusk Run Road and south of Lusk Run Road to Route 120, Route 120 to Veterans Street Bridge to SR 1001; east of SR 1001 to Croak Hollow Road, south of Croak Hollow Road to Route 664 (at Swissdale), south of Route 664 to Little Plum Road (the intersection of SR 1003), south of SR 1003 to SR 1006, south of SR 1006 to Sulphur Run Road, south of Sulphur Run Road to Route 44, east of Route 44 to Route 973, south of Route 973 to Route 87, west of Route 87 to Route 864, south of Route 864 to Route 220 and west of Route 220 to Route 405 and west of Route 405 to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
When Karen and I took a trip to the "PA Wilds" back in October, we noted a road-killed bear on Route 6 in Potter County. A state trooper, who allowed us a few quick photos, told us it was the second in a few-mile stretch of the highway during the past week. Residents we talked to complained that the bear population was extremely high in the area.
"Pennsylvania's bear population covers more than three-quarters of the state and includes a number of world-class trophy bears," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "This has earned Pennsylvania recognition as one of the top states for bear hunters. Every year, we have a number of bears exceeding 500 pounds included in the harvest."
A PGC release also confirmed that there are 800-pound bears out there; scouting now helps, finding someone to remove the bear from the woods is another leg-up.
The black bear is a magnificent animal and whenever possible be sure and choose a mature bear to harvest. For a complete rundown of the rules and regulations on PA's bear season, read pages 36 to 38 in your Hunting and Trapping Digest issued with your hunting license.
By DAVE WOLF
Outdoorsldnews.com
Updated: 11/10/2012 05:48:05 PM EST
A road-killed bear may be an indication that the population is too high. (PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN WOLF)I have seen more bears than most - in the thick laurel, along an open shoreline and gathering acorns in the forest. Although black bears are reported by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to be at an all-time high here in PA, most hunters consider one a trophy of a lifetime.
Taking only one during all my years in the field, I have only a slight tugging to take another, perhaps, just one with my inline. But I also realize that the bulging bear population does not by any stretch of the imagination mean that I have a good chance of taking another. And, admittedly, I have only half-heartily hunted bear during the past two years.
Last year's harvest was the largest since the Commission began keeping records way back in 1915. In 2011, hunters harvested 4,350 bears.
But as usual, additional hunting opportunities are often within certain Wildlife Management Units. However, additional opportunities by an extended season do not mean there is an abundance of bear in that area.
For example, the PGC opened WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D to an extended bear season, which will run concurrently with the entire two-week deer season, Nov. 26-Dec. 8. This extended season is in addition to overlapping bear and deer hunting opportunities held in these four WMUs during the archery deer and early muzzleloader and firearms deer seasons.
Noting that only two bear were harvested in all four of these units, I called PGC spokesman Jerry Feaser to be sure the numbers were correct.
"Yes," he replied. "These areas are where we know that a single bear would create human conflicts, and it's a place where the food and habitat is not suitable for black bear. These seasons were approved by the Board of Game Commissioners as a means of achieving the agency's goal of reducing bear-human conflicts in these urbanized areas of southwestern and southeastern corners of the state."
Choosing where to hunt might depend on the hunter and how far he might want to travel, where his camp is located and how many hunters he can gather to put on drives, considered one of the most effective ways to harvest a bear. A look at last year's harvest should help the undecided.
According to the PGC, bears were taken in 54 counties last year, which was the same as 2008, 2009 and 2010 but an increase from 2007, when bears were taken in 49 counties. The 2011, bear harvest by WMU for both the archery and four-day bear seasons, including 2010's harvest results in parentheses, were: WMU 1A, 13 (11); WMU 1B, 64 (42); WMU 2A, 0 (1); WMU 2B, 1 (0); WMU 2C, 226 (307); WMU 2D, 150 (146); WMU 2E, 79 (94); WMU 2F, 345 (202); WMU 2G, 1,086 (894); WMU 3A, 564 (199); WMU 3B, 479 (234); WMU 3C, 299 (118); WMU 3D, 318 (284); WMU 4A, 72 (135); WMU 4B, 70 (55); WMU 4C, 148 (90); WMU 4D, 355 (245); WMU 4E, 79 (31); WMU 5A, 1 (0); and WMU 5C, 1 (2).
Managing bears is not an easy task, and one would have thought that "bear proofing" the trash receptacles at state parks and fencing municipal dumpsters would have helped. But in reality, although it may have helped reduce human conflicts with bears, it has done little to keep populations in check.
One guess of mine is that good food supplies, coupled with mild winters, have fostered an excellent population.
The statewide archery bear season, which will be held Nov. 12-16, will lead up to the four-day statewide bear season, which will open on Saturday, Nov. 17, and then run from Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 19-21. The extended bear seasons will be held in certain WMUs and portions of WMUs the following week during deer season.
In WMUs 3D, 4C, 4D and 4E, an extended bear season is open Nov. 28-Dec. 1. An extended bear season also will be held Nov. 26-Dec. 1 in the following: All of WMUs 3A and 3C; portions of WMU 3B, that are east of Route 14 from Troy to Canton, East of Route 154 from Canton to Route 220 at Laporte and east of Route 42 from Laporte to Rt. 118, and that portion of WMU 4E, east of Route 42; and portions of WMU 2G in Lycoming and Clinton counties and WMU 3B in Lycoming County that lie north of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from the Route 405 Bridge, west to Route 15 at Williamsport, Route 15 to Route 220, and north of Route 220 to the Mill Hall exit, north of SR 2015 to Route 150.
Also, east of Route 150 to Lusk Run Road and south of Lusk Run Road to Route 120, Route 120 to Veterans Street Bridge to SR 1001; east of SR 1001 to Croak Hollow Road, south of Croak Hollow Road to Route 664 (at Swissdale), south of Route 664 to Little Plum Road (the intersection of SR 1003), south of SR 1003 to SR 1006, south of SR 1006 to Sulphur Run Road, south of Sulphur Run Road to Route 44, east of Route 44 to Route 973, south of Route 973 to Route 87, west of Route 87 to Route 864, south of Route 864 to Route 220 and west of Route 220 to Route 405 and west of Route 405 to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
When Karen and I took a trip to the "PA Wilds" back in October, we noted a road-killed bear on Route 6 in Potter County. A state trooper, who allowed us a few quick photos, told us it was the second in a few-mile stretch of the highway during the past week. Residents we talked to complained that the bear population was extremely high in the area.
"Pennsylvania's bear population covers more than three-quarters of the state and includes a number of world-class trophy bears," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "This has earned Pennsylvania recognition as one of the top states for bear hunters. Every year, we have a number of bears exceeding 500 pounds included in the harvest."
A PGC release also confirmed that there are 800-pound bears out there; scouting now helps, finding someone to remove the bear from the woods is another leg-up.
The black bear is a magnificent animal and whenever possible be sure and choose a mature bear to harvest. For a complete rundown of the rules and regulations on PA's bear season, read pages 36 to 38 in your Hunting and Trapping Digest issued with your hunting license.