Pennsylvania Hunter Bags Record-Setting Black Bear in Butler County
A hunter from Beaver County made headlines this past weekend after bagging a colossal black bear while hunting in Moraine State Park, Butler County. Nate Miller shared his experience with Pittsburgh Action News, recounting how he settled into his hunting spot before dawn. “Ask the big man upstairs for just a sight of a bear, let alone harvest one,” he remarked.
Miller spent a significant portion of the morning observing squirrels until he decided to explore the terrain further. After locating a secondary hunting spot, he grabbed his binoculars and resumed his silent vigil. This decision quickly paid off; within just 30 seconds, he spotted movement about 60 to 80 yards away. “Grab the binoculars again and confirm it’s a bear! Darn thing wasn’t there when I looked with the binoculars so I grab ’em again and double check, yep it’s a bear,” Miller explained in a Facebook message.
He took three shots with his Remington 721 .30-06 before the bear vanished from sight. Loading two more shells into his rifle, Miller began searching for the massive creature while calling his wife to inform her of the situation. Shortly thereafter, he discovered a blood trail in the leaves, leading him to the impressive 717-pound black bear. “He didn’t run at all, must have rolled down into a depression that I couldn’t see from the spot I first saw him at,” Miller noted.
The recovery process involved his brother Jason and a few friends, as it took four people to roll the bear for field dressing. “The farthest we went with four of us was about 20 feet downhill. We made some good runs but took a lot of breaks and water,” Miller recounted. The entire operation lasted around four to five hours, with park rangers assisting for the final 100 to 150 yards.
After celebrating the successful hunt, Miller headed to the Venango County check station for further excitement. The bear measured an impressive 7 feet 5 inches from nose to tail and weighed 717 pounds live, with a dressed weight of 608 pounds. Miller plans to have a full mount created and the skull cleaned.
Source: https://www.wtae.com/article/pennsyvlania-record-black-bear-beaver-county/69555241
