Pike County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs

BEAR HUNTING PAGE

Pike County could be called the Bear Capital of Pennsylvania.  With the greatest number of bear per square mile, the annual harvest is often in the triple digits.  Pike's unique habitat of large blueberry filled swamps surrounded by acorn covered ridges give the bear exactly what they need --- abundant food and cover.  The food supply is so plentiful that Pike County bears grow to incredible size and produce large litters.  Numerous bear  have broken the 800 pound mark.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

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Gary Alt, the Pennsylvania Game Commission's world renown bear biologist, spent many years studying the bear of Pike County and was always found inspecting the bears that were brought to the Shohola check station.  Today, with Dr. Alt retired, Commission personnel trained in his methods continue to record vital data in an effort to maintain a healthy population.  The bear are weighed, a tooth is pulled, and often blood or skin samples are taken.

 

The use of dogs to hunt bear is prohibited by state law as is the use of bait.  Therefore the most common hunting techniques used for hunting bear in Pike County are "driving" and "stand hunting".

Driving consists of a group of hunters (drivers) walking in unison through likely bear cover.  The drivers often shout or make other noises to alert the other hunters of their location and to scare the bears into leaving cover.  As the drivers push through the cover, other hunters (standers) are waiting and, if all goes well,  the bear will walk in front of the standers.  While this may sound easy, many bear are aware of such tricks and will lay down until the drivers go past.

 

Stand hunting involves finding a good location and waiting for a bear to walk by.  Some hunters select their stand by choosing trails used by bear or overlooking areas bear are known to frequent.  Others choose places where they have a long view in hopes a bear will amble by.  Still others select stands near swamps that they know other hunters will drive.  Since bear do not like being bothered by the drivers, they often "slip out the back"  and exit behind the drivers.  Many a bear has been taken after it has escaped a drive only to walk by a hunter sitting on the ridge.

 

No matter how you hunt them, bear hunting is quite a challenge.  While hard work and scouting will increase your chances of success, luck also plays a large part.  Many long time hunters have gone years without seeing a bear during the season let alone harvesting one.  Others shoot one on their first attempt.  But to bag a bear, you must be where the bear are and Pike County is a good place to be.

State Record Bear

864 Pounds

shot by

Doug Kristiansen

2003

Dingman Township

Pike County

Oldest Recorded Bear

35 Years Old

Shot in Pike County

2007

2007 Largest Bear in State

727pounds

shot in Dingman Twp. Pike County

Bear Den