Pennsylvania’s four-day statewide firearms bear season arrives Nov. 17.

Potential for Pa. black-bear hunters to set a state record exists for a third consecutive year. The state record harvest is 4,350 bears in 2011.

Pennsylvania is No. 2 among all states and Canadian provinces in number of black-bear entries in the Boone & Crockett records. Last year, 22 black bears taken in Pa. were entered into the club’s records.