Pennsylvania’s Black Bear Harvest: A Booming Season for Archery Enthusiasts
This fall, Pennsylvania’s wilderness has seen an impressive turnout from its black bear hunters, with over 1,100 bears harvested so far. Among these hunters is Gauge Gulvas, a 23-year-old from Clearfield County, who has made headlines by bagging his fourth bear in six years—all with a traditional recurve bow.
Between October 18 and 25, archery enthusiasts participated in a special black bear season, which also included a three-day muzzleloader event. As of October 27, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reported examining 1,143 bears, among which a staggering 649-pound specimen from Potter County took the crown for the heaviest bear, surpassing the second place, a 640-pound bear from Armstrong County, by a narrow 9 pounds.
Gauge Gulvas had a standout moment on October 20 when he successfully harvested a bear just 8 yards away while filming his hunt. “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good,” he remarked, reflecting on his remarkable achievement. His success is notable; according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, less than 3% of bear hunters manage to harvest a bear using traditional methods like bows, rifles, or muzzleloaders.
On the day of his hunt, Gulvas scouted a cornfield in Jefferson County that had been active with bear activity, thanks to his trail camera. He dedicated the week to bear hunting, taking time off work for the pursuit. After a slow start with no sightings on the first day and getting rained out on the second, his persistence paid off. By Monday evening, he spotted a bear feeding in the cornfield.
Initially, the bear passed by at around 30 yards—too far for his recurve. However, patience prevailed as the bear circled back, eventually approaching to within mere feet of his tree stand. “I’m not a big fan of heights,” he admitted, acknowledging the thrill of the moment as he prepared for his shot. Despite shaking from the cold and excitement, he made a successful shot, with the bear only making it 25 yards before falling.
Gulvas not only hunts but also self-films his adventures, sharing his experiences on his YouTube channel, Hardwoods Hunting TV. His journey into filming began at age 14, and now he can’t imagine heading into the woods without his camera.
The bear he harvested weighed in at 125 pounds, and a state game warden estimated it to be 3 or 4 years old based on its teeth. The Game Commission extracted a tooth for further examination, part of the standard process for all harvested bears in Pennsylvania.
Over the past six years, Gulvas has consistently found success hunting near cornfield edges. His previous bears include a 260-pounder in 2019, a 175-pound bear in 2020, and a 220-pound bear last year. Impressively, all four bears have come within 15 yards of him.
“I would rather be lucky than good any day,” he reflected, though he acknowledges that luck is only part of the equation. Gulvas meticulously scouts hunting locations and practices with his bow year-round. He’s now in his ninth year of hunting with a recurve bow. After initially using a compound bow, he transitioned to traditional archery and has been hooked ever since.
In terms of bear harvest locations, Tioga County leads the pack this year with 70 bears reported, followed by Pike County with 64 and Monroe County with 55. Clinton and Lycoming Counties round out the top five with 54 and 52 bears, respectively.
The black bear hunting season in Pennsylvania continues, with archery remaining open until November 28 in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 2B, 5C, and 5D, while it ends on November 21 in WMU 5B. The regular firearms season will run from November 22-25, followed by an extended firearms season from November 29 to December 13 in select WMUs.
For those passionate about the outdoors and hunting, this season is shaping up to be a memorable one, with stories of perseverance and skill like that of Gauge Gulvas inspiring many.
Source: Yahoo News
