NORTHEAST REGION
Many bear hunters expected a significant decline in the Northeast Region's bear harvest last year. However, they were wrong! They pointed to fewer nuisance complaints in certain sections of the region. (Nuisance complaints were the initial rationale for the extended season in the Poconos.)

A widespread harvest decline did not materialize as predicted. In fact, there was a big increase in most counties. Wayne County went from 135 bears two years ago to 165 last season. Bradford County's harvest jumped from 72 to 159. And Sullivan County hunters went from 56 bears in 2004 to 134 bears in 2005.

Pike County, in the heart of the Poconos, recorded only a modest increase, 158 up from.

The real surprise in the region was that Luzerne County was one of only nine in the entire state that recorded a lower harvest last year. But even so, Luzerne County missed its mark by only one bear, with 137 bruins harvested in 2005.

Delaware State Forest and the state game lands along Route 6 east of Lake Wallenpaupack provide most of the bear-hunting opportunities in the Poconos.

In Pike County, state game lands totaling more than 21,000 acres offer good hunting north and south of Route 6.

In Bradford County, hunters should consider SGL 123 near Berrytown with 1,067 acres and, on the southern border of Sullivan County, SGL 12 with 24,479 acres.

SOUTHWEST REGION
In recent years, PGC officials have stated that the Southwest Region needs more bear hunters because there are plenty of bruins in the woods. Last season, hunters apparently heeded the call. Somerset County recorded the highest increase in the region over the last two seasons, with 107 bruins in 2005, more than double the 51 bears tagged in 2004.

Fayette County produced 75 bears, up from 57, and Indiana County went from 53 to 65. Westmoreland County remained nearly par, with 45. Armstrong dropped from 35 to 33, and Cambria County rose from 21 to 30.

The big news in the region was the giant 733-pound bruin taken on Chestnut Ridge in Fayette County.

At the bottom of Chestnut Ridge SGL, 138 offers nearly 3,000 acres that are open to bear hunting. Forbes State Forest north of Wirsing is also a good bet. Forbes State Forest in Westmoreland, Somerset and Fayette counties contains 54,800 acres. SGL 153, with nearly 3,000 acres, covers the top of Chestnut Ridge in Indiana County.

Divided by a thin valley, Laurel Hill contains a number of huntable state parks and state game lands. SGL 42, with 15,330 acres, is in Westmoreland County southeast of New Florence on Route 711. Forbes State Forest also stretches over onto Laurel Hill. SGL 111, with 10,520 acres, is in Somerset County south of Route 653 and reaches down to Ohiopyle State Park.

SOUTH-CENTRAL REGION
The South-Central Region, which includes the lower Alleghenies, also contributed to last year's record-breaking bear season. All nine counties in the region either tied their 2004 harvest marks or beat them substantially.

Huntingdon County hunters recorded 127 bears last year, up from 2004's 73 bruins. Bedford County nearly quadrupled its output, from 25 bears in 2004 to 94 last year. Similarly, Blair and Fulton counties tallied substantial increases.