• Version
• Download 12
• File Size 196.02 KB
• Create Date 1 January 1983
• Download

Annual legal harvests of black bears (Ursus americanus) in Pennsylvania during 61 hunting seasons from 1915 through 1979 ranged from 149 to 929 and averaged 424. Data for 1971-1977 showed high hunting pressure, with 95,000-250,000 hunters estimated active during 1-day bear seasons and success averaging 318-507 hunters per bear harvested. In 1971-1979 total known bear losses were 92-129 for years with no hunting and 297-1017 for years with bear seasons. In hunting years, legal kills accounted for 70-84% of all losses; other significant causes of loss were illegal kills (including cubs), road kills, and damage control. Increasing hunting pressure in 1976 and 1977 and a decline in the average age of harvested bears from 4.2 in 1967 to 2.8 in 1976 led to closed seasons in 1977 and 1978. In 1979, a 1-day season resulted in 736 legal kills and 120 cub kills; known losses totaled 1017. A high reproductive rate and good cub survival, probably related to good nutrition, have allowed the Pennsylvania black bear population to respond with sustained high productivity that has compensated for population losses in most years. Control of hunting pressure is the most important management need.