`baby Jesus' Kidnapped 
From W-b Public Square 
Annual Nativity Scene Missing 
An Important Player

Loretta Christie 
Nov. 20, 1992 
Loretta Christie, Of Main Street, Inkerman, Jenkins Township, Died Friday At 
Home.

Sunday, November 22, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 10C QUICK WORDS: BEAR HUNTING 





RESTING EASY -- Few bears will be resting on their laurels Monday when the
hunting season begins. Last year state hunters took 1,687 bruins. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PHOTO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; TIMES LEADER/DON CAREY &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 BEAR POWER -- More than 90,000 hunters are expected to pursue bears like
the one pictured. Beginning Monday, Pennsylvania's three-day hunting season
for black bears gets under way. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 *********************** &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By GEORGE SMITH &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Times Leader Outdoors Editor &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WILKES-BARRE -- For three days prior to Thanksgiving, about 90,000
Pennsylvania hunters will roam the woods in pursuit of the state's estimated
7,500 black bears. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pennsylvania's bear hunting season runs from Monday through Wednesday. Bear
licenses cost $10.75 for residents and $25.75 for non-residents. Hunters must
possess a general Pennsylvania hunting licenses in addition to a bear license
to hunt bruins. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Last year 89,452 hunters took 1,687 bears from the state's forests,
according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. That figure is second only to
the record 2,213 bears taken in 1989. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hunters harvested bears in 40 of the state's 67 counties last year. Clinton
County led the state with a harvest of 151 bears, followed by Lycoming with
146; Elk, 131; Pike, 108; and Centre, 106. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was only the second time in the last 10 years that Clinton County led
the state. In the other eight years, Lycoming, the state's largest county, led
in harvests. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Another banner season is expected this year, as bear hunting opportunities
appear promising. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Here in the Commission's Northeast Region, bears are typically taken in
just about every county. Pike County led the region in 1991 with a harvest of
108, followed by Monroe with 65; Wayne, 45; Luzerne, 44; and Carbon, 36. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In Luzerne County, Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Ed Zindell said that
bears seem to be just as numerous as last year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pike County WCO Rob Buss reports that "bear hunting will be excellent.
There's an overabundance of bears for the available habitat." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In Bradford County, WCO Ed Gallew believes his population is going through
the roof. "We need hunters to put a hold on the rising bear population,"
Gallew said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WCOs in Carbon, Monroe, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties also expect
to have good hunting opportunities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In addition, Game Commission conservation officers report that bruins are
being sighted everywhere in the state's Northcentral and Northeastern
counties. Bears are even becoming more common in some Southwestern and
Southcentral counties, according to the Commission. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The bear population is very much status quo," said Commission biologist
Gary Alt, of Moscow. "The state has been maintaining a bear population of
about 7,500 since 1983. In order to hold the population, we'd like to see
hunters take 1,500 to 1,600 bears in the upcoming season." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In the past 12 years, Commission biologists have determined that hunters
annually harvest about 20 percent of the state's bear population. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bear harvests are largely dependent on food conditions. If mast crops such
as acorns and beechnuts are not plentiful, bears tend to "den up" and go into
hibernation early. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That means bruins may have headed for their dens before hunters take to the
woods Monday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Contrary to popular opinion, Alt says weather conditions have little
influence on when a bear chooses to hibernate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If a bear must expend more energy than it can store by feeding, it will
stay in its den and hibernate. The decision to hibernate is determined by
energetics," Alt explained. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While snow and ice and cold may not affect bear hibernation, the elements
certainly influence annual bear harvest figures. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We tend to do better if there's a tracking snow, and worse if there's
rain, sleet or wind," Alt said. "Harsh weather tends to force hunters
indoors." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Conservation officers throughout the state reported ample supplies of fall
foods, which are the fruits of timely rains and mild temperatures this past
summer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But according to the Commission, several northern areas in the state have
experienced reductions, especially with berries and fruits, due to late
freezes this past spring. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The key to a successful outing during the upcoming season will be to hunt
where food is still available. WCOs in the northcentral counties advised
hunters to canvass the woods for food sources and bear sign before the season
starts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If you're interested in finding bears, pay close attention to where the
mast crop is," said Potter County WCO Bill Ragosta. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Cameron County WCO Joe Carlos agrees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Since there are few acorns, preseason scouting is a must. Bears may not be
where they usually are found," Carlos said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While WCOs may be optimistic, Game Commission fall food reports can provide
only limited insight into what bears may be doing when the season arrives
Monday morning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "What's out there to eat Monday is going to determine whether bears are
active or not," Alt said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Game Commission began compiling bear harvest statistics in 1915; the
largest harvest figures have been tallied in the last nine years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In addition, the nine largest black bears taken in the state since 1915
have been harvested in the past nine years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Last year, 21 bears with an estimated live weight of 500 pounds or more
were harvested. The heaviest -- a Pike County bear taken by Shane Yarnell of
Coatsvillee -- had an estimated live weight of 699 pounds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pennsylvania's bears are indeed big. The second-largest black bear ever
recorded in North America was illegally killed near English Center, in
northern Lycoming County, in December of 1987. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The skull measured 23-7/16th under Boone and Crockett Club standards. The
largest black bear skull, at 23-10/16th inches, was found in San Pete County,
Utah, in 1975. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The largest bruin taken in the state last year -- a 604-pounder havested by
16-year-old Chad Reed of Lititz, in Bradford County -- scored 22-11/16th. It
was the fourth largest black bear recorded. The third-largest -- at 22-12 --
came from California last year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "There are a number of bears in Pennsylvania that will go over 700 pounds,"
Alt said. "There are world-class bears out there, but hunters have to find
them. In April, we caught (live-trapped) a bear that weighed over 600 pounds." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to the Commission, the first day of bear season is the best day
to be afield, based on harvest records. Last year, hunters took 6.3 percent of
the 1,687-bear harvest on the opener. The second day provided 25 percent and
the third, 12 percent. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hunters who harvest a bear must have it inspected and tagged within 24
hours at one of the bear check stations located throughout the state. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since 1972, all successful hunters have been required to have their bears
checked by Game Commission personnel within 24 hours. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Like all big game hunters, bear hunters are required to wear 250 square
inches of fluorescent orange material on their head, chest and back combined.

Bear Season Set To Begin *********************** Photo Times Leader/don Carey