Hunters killed 143 bears during the fourth and final day of Pennsylvania's statewide bear season, making the preliminary harvest for 2015 at 2,693 bears.
That's more than a 10-percent increase over the 2,444 bears taken last season during the four-day statewide season. In all, 3,366 bear were harvested last year.
The figures were released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Game Commission are only preliminary.
That's because archery and other early bear season numbers were still being entered into the commission's database.
Bears have been taken in 54 of 67 counties.
The heaviest bears taken so far weighed 713 pounds each. One was killed in Granville Township in Mifflin County, the other in Blair Township in Blair County.
The top 10 bears processed at check stations were believed to weigh 618 pounds or more.
