These were the 10 heaviest bears harvested in 2024
The Pennsylvania Game Commission says 2024 was a big year for bear hunting — literally.
Of the 10 heaviest bears harvested last year, nine of them topped 600 pounds, with three of them over 700. Overall, the Game Commission says hunters harvested more than 2,600 bears last year, placing 2024's harvest in the top 25 on record.
Bears were killed in 56 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, with the most coming from Tioga. Hunters harvested 174 bears in the Pittsburgh area.
"Pennsylvania is home to lots and lots of great bear-friendly habitat, areas with abundant and varied food sources and thick cover," Brandon Snavely, the Game Commission's black bear biologist, said in a press release. "That allows us not only to support lots of bears, but plenty of very, very big ones, too."
These were the 10 heaviest bears of 2024
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, these are the top 10 heaviest bears hunters got last year:
- a 774-pounder taking in regular bear season in Lackawanna County by Scott Price of Madison Township
- a 714-pounder taken in rifle season in Perry Township, Clarion County, by Matthew Conto of Slippery Rock
- a 700-pounder taken in archery season in Harrison Township, Potter County, by Henry Mast of Harrison Valley
- a 689-pounder taken in rifle season in Chapman Township, Clinton County, by Michael Gerg of Kersey
- a 681-pounder taken in archery season in Sharon Township, Potter County, by Tyler Birdsall of Milton
- a 681-pounder taken in rifle season in White Haven Borough, Luzerne County, by Stanley Boc of Huntingdon Valley
- a 678-pounder taken in the muzzleloader season in Lightfield Township, Bradford County, by Scott Tiffany of Athens
- a 673-pounder taken in archery season in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, by Jeffrey Prinkey of Connellsville
- a 615-pounder taken in archery season in Jefferson Township, Dauphin County, by Dennis Morgan of Halifax
- a 597-pounder taken in archery season in Venango County by Heath Bromley of Titusville
Bear license sales topped 200,000
The chances of getting a bear are somewhat slim, but the Game Commission says that's what makes it exciting. Last year, over 201,000 hunters bought bear licenses for the 2024 seasons, making it the sixth straight year sales topped 200,000.
"Bear hunting combines so many of the elements that keep hunters coming back," said Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. "For some, there's the camaraderie of going to camp or hunting with family and friends. Others might venture out alone. There's an array of seasons. But no matter how you hunt, there's always the anticipation of seeing a bear and making the most of your opportunity. And that opportunity, literally, might be extremely big."
