Hunters took 2,000 bears on Monday

Harrisburg - Pennsylvania Game Commission officials said Tuesday that hunters started the three-day 2005 black bear season Nov. 21, with an unprecedented first-day preliminary harvest of 2,026 bears, more bears than were shot in entire bear seasons as recently as 1999. Of that figure, 70 were taken in Pike County, which led northeastern counties in the harvest. “A large harvest was anticipated if weather was favorable because fall food conditions were good and the state’s bear population continues to number near 15,000,” said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist. For more on the hunt visit www.pgc.state.pa.us/.