The state’s bear hunters remain as loyal in their pursuit as ever to hunt bear, but there is a tremendous increase in bear hunters. 

Pennsylvania had fewer than 130,000 bear hunters in 2003, in 2023 it had 206,124. That total was the fourth highest ever that marked the 5th year in a row that bear license sales topped 200,000.

White-tailed deer is the only species that puts more hunters in Pennsylvania’s woods than bears these days.

Last year hunters harvested 2,920 bears. That was down from the 3,170 taken in the 2022 seasons, which isn’t necessarily surprising given the Game Commission eliminated the extended bear season in five Wildlife Management Units.

Emily Carrillo, the Game Commission’s Black Bear Program Specialist, said, “So I think this decrease in the overall harvest is mostly explained by the removal of the extended season in those five WMUs. Obviously, there are many other things that affect a harvest season for any wildlife species. But most of it can be explained by the removal of those five WMUs.”

As in past years, the overall bear harvest was spread across the state. 58 of 67 counties gave up at least one bear, as did 20 of 22 WMUs. Hunters got bears in all seasons, too. The traditional statewide firearms bear season contributed the most to the harvest, 1,086. The archery season added 695, the extended season 591, the muzzleloader season 424, the special firearms season 117 and the early archery season 7. 

The largest bear harvested was a 691-pounder taken in the extended rifle season in Pike County. But five other hunters got bears exceeding 600 lbs, and all of the top 10 heaviest bears weighed at least 576 lb.

Tioga County produced the most, giving up 176 bears last season. It was followed in the top 10 by Lycoming 170, Potter 155, Pike 142, Bradford 138, Lucerne 135, Monroe 127, Wayne 124, Clinton 108 and Carbon with 101.

Mr NRA Wayne LaPierre Resigns!

Wayne LaPierre, the executive Vice President, and chief executive officer, said his departure from the NRA is effective as of January 31, 2024. 

Wayne said, “With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA.” Wayne also said in a statement released by the organization, which said he was exiting for health reasons. 

Wayne continued to say, “I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.” 

LaPierre, 74, has led the NRA’s day-to-day operations since 1991, acting as the face and vehement voice of its gun rights agenda and becoming one of the most influential figures in shaping U.S. gun policy. He once warned of “jack-booted government thugs” seizing guns, brought in movie star Charlton Heston to serve as the organization’s president, and condemned gun control advocates as “opportunists” who exploit tragedy for gain.

LaPierre is currently fighting a lawsuit filed by the New York State Attorney General Letitia James, stating LaPierre and other officers spent millions of dollars of NRA members monies on extravagant events.

James said as punishment she is asking that LaPierre and the other defendants be ordered to pay the NRA back and that they be banned from serving in leadership positions of charitable organizations conducting business in New York, which would ban them from any NRA involvement.