Another Black Bear Story

[CJR]

It wasn't too long ago that we had a lively forum discussion on black bears' disposition along with the proper gun to carry in black bear country. So just today on Fox News we have another black bear story to think about; https://www.foxnews.com/us/pennsylvania-woman-attacked-by-bear-dragged-more-than-80-yards-officials-say

Forewarned is forearmed!

Best regards,

CJR

[ReloaderFred]

My wife had an encounter with a black bear while walking one of the dogs just last Thursday about 1/4 mile from our house. She carries a .38 and an air horn, but so far has only had to use the air horn to scare them off if they don't run on their own. When bears lose their fear of man, they are dangerous.

[megasupermagnum]

It usually not the best practice to put

"PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN GIVES BIRTH IN TACO BELL PARKING LOT: 'WE DESERVE SOME NACHOS OUT OF THIS'"

right in the center of a serious article.

[MT Gianni]

Interesting, in MT most bears denned up last month. We get a few young boars that wake and wander in Jan Feb occasionally but not many. When do they den back east?

[Edward]

Interesting, in MT most bears denned up last month. We get a few young boars that wake and wander in Jan Feb occasionally but not many. When do they den back east? Depends on weather like coon skunk possum if it stays war they can leave tracks .

[dkf]

Interesting, in MT most bears denned up last month. We get a few young boars that wake and wander in Jan Feb occasionally but not many. When do they den back east?

Bear season was less than a month ago here. Weather has not been very cold, up an down. Not too many nights in the 20s. It is going to be in the 40's (high) this weekend.

Bear was protecting the nearby deer parts he found. Wouldn't be surprised if she or someone close by fed "deer" which ended up going to the bears. People don't realize how good of a sense of smell a bear has. So they keep stuff out they really shouldn't. Bear was likely getting fattened up and crawl into a den fairly soon. Move into an area with bears, reduce their habitat and then end up surprised when bears come around.

Here is a better article. https://wnep.com/2018/12/13/a-lot-of-black-bears-in-the-area-game-commission-investigates-lycoming-county-bear-attack/

[CJR]

Mt. Gianni,

It used to be in PA that black bear season was an early separate season. That's now morphed into a bear season plus doe season during rifle antlered deer season. I've personally seen black bear wandering around late in the deer season. I suspect they're searching for deer "gut-piles" to eat before they hibernate.

Best regards,

CJR

[MT Gianni]

Thanks, in MT they usually wait for a heavy snow to cover their tracks to a den.

[frank505]

We are in the forties and have been and will be for a while. I did see gbear tracks December 1( fresh) so some are still out along the river feeding on Russian olives.

[RJM52]

CJR...you may want to check the regs again... Rifle season for bear is two weeks before the rifle season for deer begins.

The only time deer and bear season merge is archery and early black powder in October.

I've been hunting NE Pa. in WMAs 3C and 3D for 15 years....there were a couple of years that there was an extended bear season in those zones due to over population but has not be so for several seasons....

Bob

[dkf]

Right at the top of the page in link are the seasons for Bear for 2018 in PA. https://www.pgc.pa.gov/HuntTrap/Law/Documents/2018-19%20Hunting%20Trapping%20Digest/2018-19%20Bear%20Season%20Check%20Stations%20and%20Regu lations.pdf

Statewide Regular Firearms season for Bear was Nov 17 and Nov 19-21. First day of deer this year was the 26th.

[CJR]

In the WMU area I hunt, 5C, the "Extended Season" for black bear is Nov.26-Dec 8. The Regular Firearms Season, in WMU 5, for antlered and antlerless(doe) is Nov.26-Dec. 8. Reference: Pennsylvania Hunting and Trapping Digest, July1,2018-June40,2019, Section: Update, Deer and Bear.

Best regards,

CJR