Black Bear

BUY your Bear License

Online (allow 10 business days to arrive by mail; it cannot be printed)
In person at an Issuing Agent, and walk out the door with your license.

Bear Check Station Data

Click on the map below to view data from the most recent data available.

Hunting

Modifications for the 2019 seasons include expanding the mid-October muzzleloader and special firearms deer seasons to include bears statewide; increasing to two weeks the length of the statewide archery bear season and shifting it to the two weeks following the muzzleloader and special firearms bear seasons; and expanding 4-day extended bear seasons to seven days in most wildlife management units (WMUs) where they are held.
Bear Hunting Laws and Regulations 
Highly Regulated Community Activity WPSU video (3:22)
Wildlife Management Units
Pennsylvania Black Bear Harvest Certificate (PDF)
Harvest Results from the occurring or recent season nearly in real time
Black Bear Age Harvest Data
Bear, Deer & Turkey Harvests
Harvest Maps

Bear Feeding Ban: It is unlawful to intentionally lay or place food, fruit, hay, grain, chemical, salt or other minerals that may cause bears to congregate or habituate an area. In addition, if nuisance bears are being attracted to an area by other wildlife feeding, game wardens can issue written notice to temporarily halt the activity.

Live Stream from Northeast Pennsylvania

The live stream from Monroe County was brought to you by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and HDOnTap. The sow and cub left the den the evening of Thursday, April 11. Thank you homeowners, HDOnTap, and fans. This has been such a neat experience. Learn more about this den site From Under the Deck. 

Reference

Wildlife Note – Black bear biology and ecology
Myths and Misconceptions about PA Black Bears - WITF Smart Talk radio interview with Game Commission Bear Biologist, 2019
A February Bear Den Visit (2:20)
Summer Bear Trapping (1:20)
On the Trail of the Pennsylvania Black Bear; 1991 (1:41:48)
Springtime Ecology of Pennsylvania Black Bears - a webinar (46:29)
Living with Black Bears – Urban bears
Black Bear Expansion Based on Harvest Distribution (PDF)
Mange in Black Bears brochure (PDF)

Research

Black Bear Research in Your Neighborhood (PDF)
Population Growth of Bears
Bountiful Black Bears
Bear Management Plan (PDF)
Pennsylvania Residents' Opinions On and Attitudes toward Black Bears (PDF)
Pennsylvania Residents' Opinions On and Attitudes toward black Bears - Executive Summary (PDF)