HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four days of the statewide four-day bear season have produced a preliminary harvest of 2,639 bears, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission check station reports filed this afternoon.

Last year's four-day bear harvest total was 3,154; in 2010, which offered a three-day season with a Saturday opener, the harvest total was 2,815. 

Harvest results from the early bear season, including the statewide archery bear season, won't be available until mid-December.  Official total bear harvest results will be available in early 2013, after a detailed review of each harvest report is completed.  Preliminary bear harvest totals do change occasionally by a few bears.

The preliminary three-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 3; WMU 1B, 37; WMU 2C, 229; WMU 2D, 152; WMU 2E, 37; WMU 2F, 269; WMU 2G, 744; WMU 3A, 162; WMU 3B, 180; WMU 3C, 63; WMU 3D, 183; WMU 4A, 132; WMU 4B, 74; WMU 4C, 93; WMU 4D, 233; WMU 4E, 45; WMU 5A, 1; and WMU 5C, 2.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations, so far, all had actual or estimated live weights that exceeded 562 pounds. Joseph A. Spano, of East Stoudsburg, has harvested the largest bear so far this season. Taken Nov. 21, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, the male bear weighed an actual live weight of 709 pounds.

Other large bears (all but one, are estimated live weights) included: a 706-pound male taken by James R. Weisbrod, of Quakertown, in Greene Township, Pike County, on Nov. 20; a 699-pound male taken by William M. Rising, of Indiana, in Hamlin Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19; a 652-pound (actual live weight) male taken by Timothy J. Moffett, of Barto, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, on Nov. 17; a 620-pound male, taken by Robert A. Pitts, of Meadville, in Roulette Township, Potter County, on Nov. 17; a 598-pound male, taken by Michael P. Intallura, of Renovo, in Noyes Township, Clinton County, on Nov. 17; 586-pound male, taken by Brian K. Stuebgen, of Renfrew, in Sergeant Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19; a 576-pound male, taken by Dana L. Landis, of Chambersburg, in Southampton Township, Bedford County, on Nov. 19; a 573-pound male taken by Michael J. Kelly, of Pittsburgh, in Harmony Township, Forest County, on Nov. 21; and a 562-pound male taken by Bryan L. Leabhart, of Dudley, in Carbon Township, Huntingdon County, on Nov. 19.

After four days of the four-day season, the top bear harvest county in the state remained Lycoming with 262.  The rest of the line-up of the top five counties for bear harvests, so far, are: Clinton, 229; Tioga, 150; Potter 109; and Centre, 98.

County harvests by region for the four days are: 

Northwest: Warren, 88; Clarion, 74; Venango, 62; Forest, 51; Jefferson, 50; Butler, 8; Erie, 7; and Crawford, 6.

Southwest: Somerset, 87; Fayette, 69; Armstrong, 32; Westmoreland, 25; Indiana, 19; and Cambria, 11.

Northcentral: Lycoming, 262; Clinton, 229; Tioga, 150; Potter 109; Centre, 98; McKean, 89; Clearfield, 84; Elk, 73; Cameron, 61; and Union, 60.

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 92; Bedford, 76; Mifflin, 42; Blair, 35; Perry, 29; Juniata, 27; Fulton, 22; Franklin, 14; Snyder, 8; and Adams, 1.

Northeast: Pike, 70; Luzerne, 64; Monroe, 60; Wayne, 42; Bradford, 38; Sullivan, 35; Carbon, 32; Wyoming, 26; Lackawanna, 21; Columbia, 19; Susquehanna, 18; and Northumberland, 11.

Southeast: Dauphin, 25; Schuylkill, 20; Northampton, 4; Berks, 2; Lebanon, 1; and Lehigh, 1.

Hunters with an unfilled bear license may participate in extended bear seasons that run concurrent with all or portions of the first week of the firearms deer season.

For details about those areas open to extended bear hunting and the dates, please see pages 36 and 37 of the 2012-13 Digest.  Bear check stations opened during the extended bear seasons can be found on page 38 of the 2012-13 Digest.

Note to Editors: If you would like to receive Game Commission news releases via e-mail, please send a note with your name, address, telephone number and the name of the organization you represent to: PGCNews@pa.gov

SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission