HARRISBURG — With an additional 291 bears taken during the extended bear season that was open recently in certain parts of the state, Pennsylvania Game Commission preliminary harvest reports accounted for 2,356 bears, which moves this year's harvest into ninth place in state bear harvests.

Updated preliminary results now show that the second-ever, two-day archery bear season resulted in a harvest of 41, and the statewide three-day season resulted in a harvest of 2,024.

Official total bear harvest figures for all three seasons won't be available until early 2008, after a detailed review of the each harvest report is completed.

"While this year's bear kill is down from the 2005 and 2006 seasons, hunters still registered an impressive harvest," said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist. "This year's harvest falls in line with the harvests of 1998 through 2004."

In 2005, hunters set a record harvest of 4,164 and followed with 3,122 in 2006.

Ternent noted that the combination of record license sales, high bear population estimates, abundant fall foods and favorable weather conditions aided in reaching these marks.

Other recent bear harvests include: 2,598 in 1998; 1,740 in 1999; 3,075 in 2000; 3,063 in 2001; 2,686 in 2002; 3,000 in 2003; and 2,972 in 2004.

This fall, 10 hunters harvested bears in excess of 600 pounds, with two reaching the 700-pound class. Scott Spaeth of Philadelphia harvested the largest bear, a male weighing in at 727-pounds (estimated live weight). The bear was taken in Dingman Township, Pike County, at 3:45 p.m. on Nov. 28.

Also, Rodney Howard of Port Allegany harvested a 712-pound (estimated live weight) male bear in Roulette Township, Potter County, at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 19.

County harvests by region for the three seasons (with 2006 figures in parentheses) are:

Northwest: Warren, 71 (79); Forest, 55 (46); Venango, 39 (43); Jefferson, 38 (28); Clarion, 24 (36); Butler, 9 (12); Crawford, 4 (5); and Erie, 2 (2).

Southwest: Somerset, 85 (123); Fayette, 78 (62); Westmoreland, 31 (22); Indiana, 31 (50); Armstrong, 43 (31); and Cambria, 10 (14).

North central: Clinton, 171 (225); Lycoming, 138 (222); Tioga, 121 (149); Cameron, 118 (70); Potter 106 (188); McKean, 102 (136); Clearfield, 81 (136); Elk, 62 (87); Centre, 60 (103); and Union, 27 (43).

South central: Huntingdon, 72 (99); Bedford, 61 (72); Blair, 35 (38); Mifflin, 21 (44); Snyder, 19 (16); Juniata, 14 (14); Fulton, 8 (17); Perry, 6 (8); and Franklin, 2 (4).

Northeast: Bradford, 86 (103); Pike, 81 (87); Wayne, 78 (132); Luzerne, 61 (90); Sullivan, 57 (126); Susquehanna, 49 (87); Columbia, 39 (38); Monroe, 35 (49); Carbon, 31 (27); Lackawanna, 28 (29); Wyoming, 26 (53); and Northumberland, 2 (5).

Southeast: Schuylkill, 14 (15); Dauphin, 6 (13); Lebanon, 6 (8); and Northampton, 4 (6).County harvests for the two-day archery season (with 2006 figures in parentheses) by region was:

Northwest: Venango, 1 (1); and Warren, 1 (1).

Southwest: Fayette, 5 (3); Somerset, 3 (1); Westmoreland, 3 (0); Armstrong, 2 (0); and Indiana 1 (4).

North central: Clearfield, 3 (4); Clinton, 3 (12); Lycoming, 3 (3); Centre, 2 (8); Potter, 2 (7); Tioga, 2 (5); Cameron, 1 (1); McKean, 1 (5).

South central: Huntingdon, 2 (4); Bedford, 1 (0); Blair, 1 (2); Mifflin, 1 (2); Perry, 1 (0); and Snyder, 1 (0).