One of the most popular game species to hunt in Pennsylvania nowadays is the black bear. Increasing bear populations along with added seasons have turned black bear hunting into one of the most favored types of hunting in the Keystone State. Nevertheless, harvesting a black bear anywhere in the world is no easy task, especially in the PA Wilds.
In 2023, a total of 206,124 bear licenses were sold in Pennsylvania. Out of more than 206,000 license holders, only 2,920 black bears were harvested. To do the math, that’s right around 1% of licensed bear hunters having success. The bear population in Pennsylvania is estimated to be around 18,000, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Ultimately, harvesting a black bear in the Keystone State is a once in a lifetime achievement. Black bears are extremely intelligent. They spend most of their daytime hours inside of extremely thick cover. Although they lack superb eyesight, their noses and ears make up for it. Black bears can smell 2,100 times better than humans and seven times better than a bloodhound.
One of the biggest keys to harvesting a black bear is to keep the wind in your favor so it can’t smell you. In the woods, black bears are constantly checking the wind and smelling for food as well as human predation. The slightest whiff of human scent that enters a bear’s nose will send it running away, immediately.
Black bears are extremely quick, as well. A big, chubby, black bear is not as slow as one might imagine. In a short burst, black bears can run up to 30 miles per hour. I’ve witnessed bears run up mountains faster than an NFL running back racing toward the end zone.
Up close, black bears can see very well but not from long distances. One advantage hunters should be aware of is the fact that black bears can not see well from far out. This is why many bear hunters do well with spotting and stalking, especially with a gun. You can get away with a lot of movement from 100 yards out and farther. Once again, the key is your scent control.
Most bear hunters I know have never harvested a black bear. Some have spent countless seasons without a single opportunity or a sighting. My grandfather hunted black bears for several decades before harvesting his only one in 2001. He and I were bear hunting together along the side of an oak ridge when he came upon the bear, feeding about 80 yards in front of him. There was no snow, but the wind was in his favor and the bear’s shiny black coat stuck out like a sore thumb against the brown, forest floor. We were about 100 yards apart when he spotted the bear and took the shot. He emptied his entire gun on that bear. He did not want it to get away. I could have also fired a few rounds into the bear, but I didn’t want to take away part of the harvest from him. I knew that was going to be his last chance and I wanted it to be entirely his accomplishment.
When I walked up to my grandfather to congratulate him on his bear, he was in tears. The amount of effort he put into that one moment for what seemed to be a lifetime pursuit finally paid off. The bear ended up weighing somewhere around 200 pounds. To my knowledge, he only had one other opportunity prior to that success.
The hunters who seem to have the most success are the ones who have mastered bear drives. This is when a group of hunters team up in areas to push bears to each other. Bear drives work best in small sections of thick cover. This is one of the only ways to get bears to move out of thickets and into the open woods where hunters can get a clear shot.
When there’s snow, many hunters do well tracking bears. Bears are known to travel long distances within their home ranges. It is not uncommon for bears to travel several miles per day, especially in search of food. If you’re tracking a bear in the snow, be ready for a long hike!
When harvesting a bear, the hardest part is getting it out of the woods. Rarely can one person drag a bear out alone. Bears do not drag as easily as deer. Bear hunters relate dragging a bear to be the same as dragging out a small boulder. Their round shape makes them extremely difficult to haul out of the woods. A large, 300-pound bear might need a crew of a dozen grown men to get it out of the woods.
Bear season opens statewide today. Best of luck to all bear hunters in the Keystone State.
