Are there any bear hunters/hunters from Pennsylania on here. I am thinking about driving out next week and have some questions.

wyocarp@aol.com

What questions do you have, maybe I can help.

Are you a bear hunter? I was giving some thought to driving out and trying to get a bear. What are the chances of someone who hasn't scouted any areas driving to a spot or two, like in the Tioga State Forest, and finding a bear? I'm also wondering about the use of handguns in PA.

I hunt bear but in the Upper N.E. section of the State. The areas I hunt have yielded some of the largest bears throughout the country 875lbs plus.
Carbon, Monroe and Pike counties some of the best.

I've tried tioga several times, but with no luck, but I have a friend who has taken nice bears over 500lbs.

As far as hangun hunting goes, you need a sporting permit acquired from a county court house, or a carry permit issued state or county. Call the PA Game Commission for further information.
Toll Free 1-717-787-4250

If you hunt Tioga, look for swamps, laurel thickets or game lands bordering framlands. Bears seem to move at dawn and dask, but if pushed will move all day long. Look for thickets and along streams or rivers. Sign may be large rocks turned over, fallen tree stumps ripped open, berry patches and even pine stands. Rock out croppings and ridges are likely areas.

Rifle if used 30 calibers and larger, bullet grain weight 170 plus, one with good penetration properties and expansion. Shots anywhere between several yards out to maybe 150 yards plus.

Without prior scouting you have a very difficult task ahead of you. I have hunted bear in PA for over 40 years and other states and Canada. Get topo maps and focus on large swampy areas. If you don't have access to private land, some state parks and game lands are decent. In a swamp you may only catch glimpses of a moving target and have to shoot fast. Leave the revolver and take a BLR lever '06 or Rem pump 35 Whelen, or something similar. This is not bait hunting and you can't always get the ideal shot!

I hunt bear but in the Upper N.E. section of the State. The areas I hunt have yielded some of the largest bears throughout the country 875lbs plus.
Carbon, Monroe and Pike counties some of the best.

I've tried tioga several times, but with no luck, but I have a friend who has taken nice bears over 500lbs.


There were more bears harvested in Lycoming and Clinton counties in the past years but not many more than Pike according to the Game Commission. Where in Pike county would be good? How is the access?

There were more bears harvested in Lycoming and Clinton counties in the past years but not many more than Pike according to the Game Commission. Where in Pike county would be good? How is the access?

Pike County- Delaware State Forest
About 1/2 hour north of Stroudsbrug off Rt. 402, Thunder Swamp area behind Porter Lake or BIg Bear Swamp.

Carbon County
Rt. 903 Game LAnds behind Bear Creek Lake Estates, in the Stoney Creek Hollow area or Unionville area gamelands.
Rt. 93 north of Nesquehoning the braod mountain gamelands just above Ginther or Weatherly.

Monroe County
Rt 940 Two good locations the first just north of White Haeven in the France E. Walters Dam area and the second is about 6 miles north of Albrightsville in the Brady's Pound Area.
Off Rt. 115 in the Thornhurst gamelands is another hot spot.

I have used a doe bleat mouth call to bring bears in to within 35 yards.

Access is good in all areas mentioned and all have large swamps near and within the areas .

Was out deer hunting 12-1-05 in the Hichory Run State PArk area, Carbon County just south of White Heaven PA. The time 11:30am, setup just above a small drainage hollow distance to sighted bear about 200 yards.

The bear appeared to be over 400 lbs, it came from the direction of the youth camp heading towards the river, walked within 100 yards of where I was seated. This would have been one of the easiest bears to kill. It just walked ever so slowly, not even sensing I was in the area, the wind was in my favor. I had thought of shooting it, but since I was by myself and probably a good 1/4 mile in off the road, I passed on it.

As of this post, I have learned that several friends of mine would have been more than willing to help me get it out of the woods. Well next year, I'll be hunting in that same area, and just maybe I'll get another chance.