Pennsylvania’s 2024 Bear Harvest: By the Numbers
Pennsylvania hunters wrapped up the 2024 bear season with a solid showing, harvesting 2,642 bears statewide, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. While this number is slightly lower than the 2023 harvest of 2,920 bears, it still reflects the strength of Pennsylvania’s black bear population and the quality of hunting opportunities across the state.
Biggest Bears of the Season
Several massive bears were taken this year, highlighting the potential for trophy-sized harvests in Pennsylvania:
- A 775-pound male taken with a muzzleloader in Monroe County.
- A 739-pound bear harvested with a bow in Pike County.
- A 707-pounder brought down in Lycoming County.
Other notable heavyweights included bears over 600 pounds taken in Monroe, Huntingdon, Northampton, Bedford, and Somerset counties.
These bears are among the largest harvested in the country, showing that Pennsylvania’s dense woods and healthy food sources continue to produce giants.
County Harvest Leaders
Northern and central counties once again led the way in bear harvest numbers:
- Tioga County topped the list with 126 bears harvested.
- Lycoming County followed with 119 bears.
- Potter County reported 98 bears.
Other strong contributors included Clinton (95 bears) and Centre (82 bears). In total, hunters harvested bears in 59 counties statewide, showing the wide distribution of black bears across Pennsylvania.
Season Structure and Weather Impacts
Pennsylvania’s bear seasons were split across multiple periods:
- An early muzzleloader and archery season starting in October.
- The general statewide firearms season in November.
- Extended hunting in selected Wildlife Management Units into December.
Weather once again played a critical role. Early snowfalls in northern Pennsylvania made tracking easier during the muzzleloader and archery seasons. Meanwhile, mild weather in southern regions kept bears active during daylight, helping hunters spot and harvest bears longer into the season.
Pennsylvania’s Bear Management Success
Pennsylvania remains a national leader in black bear management. Wildlife biologists estimate the state’s bear population at around 15,000 to 16,000 bears, maintaining a balance between hunter opportunity and long-term conservation.
The Game Commission adjusts hunting seasons and limits based on careful population monitoring. The slight dip in harvest numbers from 2023 to 2024 is not a cause for concern, but rather part of normal year-to-year variation based on weather, food availability, and hunter participation.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 bear season proved once again that Pennsylvania offers some of the best black bear hunting opportunities in the eastern U.S. Heavy bears, widespread success, and solid conservation practices kept the tradition strong.
For hunters looking to stay informed about season dates and find public hunting lands using detailed maps, Hunterizer is a valuable tool to plan and organize successful hunts year after year.
Here’s to another strong season, and to the hunters who put in the work to earn it.
