Three Keystone Bears Check In At Over 800-pounds
By TSN Staffwriter
Dec 5, 2003, 12:05am

HARRISBURG, PA - The top 10 black bears taken so far in the bear seasons include 5 monsters; three 800-pounders and two 700-pounders. In total, there were 17 bears exceeding 600 pounds. A listing of the top 10 bears and the hunters who took them, are:

- 864-pound male taken in Dingman Township, Pike County, on Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. by Douglas Kristiansen of Milford.

- 837-pound male taken in Dingman Township, Pike County, on Dec. 1 at 11:30 a.m. by Ray R. Reper of Branchville, New Jersey.

- 808-pound male taken in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, on Dec. 1 at 10:30 a.m. by Jason A. Taddeo of Bethlehem.

- 739-pound male taken in Weatherly Township, Carbon County, on Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. by Brian J. Coxe of Weatherly.

- 725-pound male taken in Sweden Township, Potter County, on Nov. 24 at 7:45 a.m. by Benjamin A. Long of Coudersport.

- 664-pound male taken in Greene Township, Pike County, on Dec. 2 at 8:30 a.m. by Thomas J. Young of Jacksonville, Florida.

- 661-pound male taken in Tell Township, Huntingdon County, on Nov. 25 at 7:30 a.m. by Gregg E. Walls of Dry Run.

- 648-pound male taken in Cherry Ridge Township, Wayne County, on Nov. 24 at 2:45 p.m. by Andrew G. Box of Honesdale.

- 644-pound male taken in Knox Township, Clarion County, on Nov. 24 at 9:30 a.m. by Brandon S. Carson of Monongahela.

- 642-pound male taken in Beech Creek Township, Clinton County, on Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m. by James S. Hoover of Lititz

Those corn-fed PA bears are BIG! An acquaintance of my father only began bear hunting after he was charged - while he was ON HIS TRACTOR cutting corn. Evidently, the bear was irritated that someone was cutting down his victuals!

Yup, mighty big bears!

If I remember correctly, the largest blackies are supposed to be coming from either North or South Carolina anymore. Must be the soy bean fields are fattening them up!