Jim Domhoff, right, shot this black bear near Tionesta Nov. 19. Also pictured are Don Domhoff, who got a bear in 1990, and Les Domhoff Jr., who got one in 1990. The father also killed a bear in 1951.

HARRISBURG — Two days of bear hunting produced a preliminary harvest of 1,638 bears, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission reports.

In 2006, 2,185 bears passed through check stations the first two days. In 2005, when the state record bear harvest was set, agency personnel processed 2,875 bears on the first two days of the season; 2,262 in 2004; 2,299 in 2003; and 2,022 in 2002.

These harvest numbers do not include the results of the state's archery bear hunt, which was held in certain Wildlife Management Units Nov. 14 and 15. Those results will be available Wednesday.

Beginning Monday and running through Dec. 1, deer hunters who possess a valid bear license can participate in the extended bear season in WMU 3C, portions of 3B, 4E, and 2G. In WMU 3D, an extended bear season will run from Wednesday Dec. 1

For information on those areas open during the extended bear season, refer to pages 39 to 41 of the 2007-08 Hunting and Trapping Digest, which is provided to each license buyer.

Bear licenses must be bought at any issuing agent before the opening day of the regular deer firearms season Monday, including through The Outdoor Shop on the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).

If bought through The Outdoor Shop, license buyers will be provided a Web order number that they will be instructed to write on their general hunting license in the appropriate box and sign. There will be no need to wait for anything to be sent in the mail.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations through Tuesday all had estimated live weights that exceeded 500 pounds.

Rodney Howard of Port Allegany harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at a 712-pound estimated live weight. The bear was taken in Roulette Township, Potter County, at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 19.

The top bear harvest county in the state after the first two days was Clinton with 142, followed by Tioga 102, Cameron 98, Lycoming 97 and Potter, 87.

County harvests by region for the first two days, followed by the two-day 2006 preliminary harvests in parentheses, are:

Northwest: Warren, 67 (68); Forest, 50 (44); Jefferson, 33 (23); Venango, 28 (37); Clarion, 17 (32); Butler, 8 (9); Crawford, 2 (4); and Erie, 2 (1).

Southwest: Somerset, 72 (105); Fayette, 56 (49); Indiana, 26 (36); Armstrong, 35 (21); Westmoreland, 32 (17); and Cambria, 8 (9).

Northcentral: Clinton, 142 (177); Tioga, 102 (123); Cameron, 98 (60); Lycoming, 97 (161); Potter 87 (158); McKean, 80 (117); Clearfield, 70 (107); Elk, 55 (74); Centre, 43 (79); and Union, 19 (35).

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 53 (86); Bedford, 52 (58); Blair, 25 (31); Juniata, 12 (9); Snyder, 12 (12); Mifflin, 11 (33); Fulton, 6 (16); Perry, 5 (8); and Franklin, 1 (4).

Northeast: Pike, 42 (42); Bradford, 28 (30); Luzerne, 22 (40); Sullivan, 20 (59); Wayne, 19 (44); Carbon, 17 (20); Susquehanna, 15 (31); Columbia, 14 (16); Monroe, 11 (28); Lackawanna, 10 (12); Wyoming, 8 (23); and Northumberland, 2 (2).

Southeast: Schuylkill, 9 (12); Dauphin, 6 (11); Lebanon, 6 (6); and Northampton, 3 (0).