Changes to Pennsylvania’s big game hunting season relating to October offers a wide range of opportunities.
The regular archery season opened for deer on the 5th of October and is slated to end on the 16th of November. But there is more to come.
This year, muzzleloader season opens on the 19th of October for black bear. And here is where there has been confusion.
In a clarification, the PGC noted that the Pennsylvania 2019 Bear Muzzleloader Season begins on Oct. 19th and runs through Oct. 26th. The PGC reminds hunters that those pursuing bears with a muzzleloader must leave any archery tackle behind, even if they have a valid archery license and deer tag in addition to their bear license.
Hunters eligible to participate in the special firearm deer and bear seasons, held Oct. 24-26, are permitted to use other approved sporting arms. This enables those hunters to be in possession of both a rifle and archery equipment when hunting bear or antlerless deer.
The PGC recognized the confusion and apologized for the misunderstanding stemming from the overlapping of multiple seasons regarding the addition of the first-ever October muzzleloader bear season.
If the Pennsylvania Board of Commissioners continues authorizing the muzzleloader bear season into the future, the Board may revisit the question of which sporting arms an individual may be in possession of during the overlap of the bear season with archery season.
Keep in mind that the archery bear season opens statewide on the 21st of October and ends November 9th. There are a few exceptions in several Wildlife Management Units listed on page 34 of the Hunting & Trapping Digest.
The special firearms season will open statewide for junior and senior license holders, Mentored Youth, along with active-duty military and certain disabled persons beginning on the 24th of October and ending on the 26th.
The reason for the additional black bear hunting season is we have too much of a good thing.
The black bear population is estimated to exceed 20,000, and biologists believe a harvest of more than 4,000 bears is possible. If the 4,000 figure was realized, it would NOT result in an overharvest.
The increasing number of black bears is in large part due to an under harvest of bears during the 2017 and 2018 season. The under harvest is a result of adverse weather conditions. Even so, the two-year combined bear take resulted in over 6,500 bears taken.
The overall black bear population is one consideration. Also the black bear population needs to be socially acceptable as well.
This year, throughout the region, black bear sightings were common as bears came out of hibernation. For most, sightings became the talk of the town. However bruins began to get into trouble. Farmers experienced crop damage in some areas while black bears commonly raided garbage cans and dumpsters searching for a quick and easy meal. Even in towns, black bears freely roamed.
One of the more interesting bear incidents this year made front page news in the Bradford Era’s Sept. 25 edition. A black bear entered the Floyd C. Fretz Middle School in the evening hours when school was not in session. The entry was made through a window and the bear was observed by surveillance cameras in the school. It would have been interesting if the bear would have gained access to the school cafeteria.
Black bear news also made the front page of the Bradford Era on the 8th of October. The article highlighted how farmers are struggling with crop damage by black bears.
Both articles, along with the uptick in bear sightings in general, are a reflection of an increased bear population that has grown to be what some consider to be socially unacceptable. Hunters can help, especially with the generous black bear hunting season now in progress.
Charlie Burchfield is an active member and past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, an active member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Assoc. of America and the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers. Gateway Outdoors e-mail is GWOutdoors@comcast.net
