Indiana County’s bear harvest was down in the 2023 season, falling from 31 to 24. In fact the entire Southwest region was off…a lot.
In the nine-county region, only one county had an increase. Beaver County had one bear taken, after having none in 2022. Overall, the harvest for the Southwest fell by 112, from 253 to 141. Neighboring Armstrong County fell from 50 to 41. Westmoreland County dropped from 25 to 13, Cambria County from 44 to only 5. Jefferson County, which is part of the Northwest Region, fell from 80 bears to 51 and Clearfield County, which traditionally has the most bears taken in the area, had only 72 bears taken, after 114 were harvested in 2022. Clearfield County is counted in the Northcentral region.
Indiana County and its five neighbors were down a combined 133 bears.
The state as a whole gave up 2,920 bears, 650 fewer than last year. Tioga County was the champ, with 176 bears harvested.
A 691-pound beast taken in Pike County by Mitchell Jonathan of Quakertown in the extended rifle season was the largest bear taken.
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