Attn Bear Hunters:
Contributors to this thread:Pennsylvania
From: Rut Nut
29-Sep-14
It took the UBP almost 22-years of hard work to finally see an archery bear season, but we may well see that opportunity expanded with less than a two year effort. At the April 2014 PGC Board of Commissioners Meeting, Commissioner Ralph Martone requested that Staff look at the feasibility of allowing bowhunters to take black bear during the last week of the archery season. Combined with the week of archery bear season during the third week of November, this would give bowhunters two weeks of opportunity to take a bear. At the June Meeting the UBP Legislative Committee met with Director of the PGC Bureau of Wildlife Management and one of the bear biologists. During that meeting we were supplied with an analysis that indicated the BWM felt that the proposed season would not have an adverse effect on the bear resource, and that even on the outside chance that archers would overly-exceed the estimated 900-bear harvest, that a reduction of opportunity the flowing season would undoubtedly result in recovery of the population. At this past weekends PGC/BOC Meeting, Commissioner Martone has requested that PGC Staff submit a proposal for the Board to consider at the January 2015 seasons & Bag Limits Meeting.
From: Bogey
29-Sep-14
Awesome!!
From: Rut Nut
29-Sep-14
Yes, let's hope it is a good proposal and is passed for next season! :)
From: mixed bag
29-Sep-14
Long overdue imo.They talk about all the problem bears in the extended season zones.I bet this doubles the existing harvest in archery.Almost all archers out in the woods that last week unless their tags are filled.Think how many more licenses will be sold.Its a win for us and the game commission
From: Brad Gehman
29-Sep-14
Great news!
From: NockTaker
29-Sep-14
Looks like I will be moving up state.
From: Jeff Durnell
29-Sep-14
I haven't bought a bear license in years, but would start buying it again and hunting them in ernest if that happens.
Might bring a bunch more crossbow hunters out of the woodwork though :^(
From: Rut Nut
29-Sep-14
I think Scott is right- not many more people in the woods, just more guys buying licenses that are already deer hunting.
From: hawkeye in PA
29-Sep-14
Last couple of years I've seen some real nice bucks during archery bear. I'm all for it and that would make vacation a little easier.
From: Rut Nut
30-Sep-14
Just to be clear Jeff- they are not talking about extending the archery deer season, just opening up archery bear a week early to coincide with the last week of archery(deer).
From: Jeff Durnell
30-Sep-14
Perry, I got that, but my point is, I know more than a handful of current rifle-only hunters who are serious bear hunters. They may buy a crossbow and come to bowseason for additional bear hunting opportunities... initially at least.
Doesn't mean I'm opposed to it because of that.. jes sayin.
From: Rut Nut
30-Sep-14
I was replying to the "other" Jeff, Jeff! (hawkeye in PA ;-)
From: Jeff Durnell
30-Sep-14
Oh ok. Nevermind then :^)
From: hawkeye in PA
30-Sep-14
Thanks Perry, and I did understand that. I now use a couple of vacation days the last week of archery and save a few for archery bear. I seen a real bruiser of a buck the first Monday of archery bear last year.
From: Rut Nut
30-Sep-14
Yeah, I hear ya! And I've seen bear the last week of archery. Hope that happens again! ;-)
From: horsethief51
02-Oct-14
Less than 100 yards from where I got the bear last year. Stand is 22 yards to his left in a hickory tree.