Pennsylvania Bear Hunters Set New Record Hunters in the Commonwealth State set a new harvest record when 4,164 black bears were taken in the regular and extended 2005 seasons in November and December. The previous record of 3,075 killed in 2000 was smashed, and state Game Commission personnel attribute five reasons for the old mark being eclipsed by more than 25 percent: more hunting opportunity; high bear populations; record number of hunters; a tremendous mast crop keeping bears on the move and out of dens; and cooperative weather. Since 1999, more than 20,000 black bears have been harvested in Pennsylvania.