Pennsylvania hunters harvest over 3,100 black bears in 2022 season

Hunters in Pennsylvania harvested 3,170 black bears during the 2022 hunting season, according to a report from the state Game Commission.

That number was down from 3,621 in 2021.

Hunters took 737 bears in the archery season, 712 in the muzzleloader/special firearms season, 1,051 in the general season and 663 in the extended season. Another seven were taken in the early season, according to the report.

That’s how things most likely will continue moving forward, said Emily Carrollo, the Game Commission’s black bear biologist.

“Our season structure allows hunters to pursue black bears across multiple months, using multiple tools, when opportunity best matches up with their availability,” Carrollo said in the report. “They can hunt when they have the time off work or school or other responsibilities, which is good for them and helps us reach our management objectives.”

Among counties, Tioga produced the most with 187 bears

In the southwest region, 253 bears were harvested, with 50 coming from Armstrong, 34 coming from Fayette, 25 from Westmoreland, three from Greene and two from Allegheny.

Fire burns through roof at Elizabeth Forward High School Crews battled a fire that broke out at Elizabeth Forward High School in Elizabeth Township early Sunday morning.

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