WHEN IT COMES to hunting bears in the northeast, states in northern New England generally get a lot of the attention. With lots of bears, long seasons, plenty of prime bear habitat and hunting licenses that don’t cost a fortune, the attention is well warranted.
Which begs the question, how does Pennsylvania stack up? The answer? Quite nicely, thank you very much.
LOTS OF BEARS
Back in the 1970s Pennsylvania’s bear population was estimated at about 4,000 animals. Since then, the population has increased five-fold to about 20,000, one of the largest not only in the northeast, but east of the Mississippi. According to recent Pennsylvania Game Commission reports, bears are now found in most of the commonwealth’s available habitat, including the so-called fringe areas, and densities are increasing, nearing…
