Black Bear

Scientific Name: Ursus americanus
Seasons and Bag Limits: 2020-2021 Digest, Black Bear Section

Black Bear Wildlife Note

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.

Hunting

Modifications for the 2020 seasons include shifting the statewide general bear season to run from Saturday through Tuesday and adding an additional Sunday opportunity for bear hunters on Sun. Nov. 22; increasing the bear hunting opportunities for archers by adding a week to the archery bear season and creating an overlap in the first week with the muzzleloader deer and bear seasons; and moving the start of the extended bear seasons to Monday of the first week of firearms deer season in all WMUs with extended bear seasons.

Black Bear Age Harvest Data
Bear, Deer & Turkey Harvests
Harvest Maps
Pennsylvania Black Bear Harvest Certificate (PDF)
Wildlife Management Units
Highly Regulated Community Activity WPSU video (3:22)

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.

Harvest Data

Click on the map below to view information being collected at check stations.

Reference

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
Why is there a bear in my yard? (1:25)
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)

Black Bear

HUNTING

2020-2021 Digest, Black Bear Section

BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Sept. 19-Nov. 27. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMU 5B): Oct. 3-Nov. 14. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (Statewide): Oct. 17-Nov. 7. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 17-24. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, SPECIAL FIREARMS (Statewide): Oct. 22-24, Junior and Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 21, Sun. Nov. 22, & Nov. 23-24. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 1B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Nov. 30-Dec. 5. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Nov. 30-Dec. 12. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.