HARRISBURG According to official 2009 bear harvest figures released by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, hunters took 3,512 bears, which included 116 bears during the archery season; 3,052 during the statewide three-day season; and 344 bears during the extended seasons in select areas of the state.

That included 13 in Butler County. Thirteen were also taken in 2008 in the county.

This total ranks second among Pennsylvania’s annual bear harvests. In 2005, hunters set a record with 4,164 bears. Other recent totals were: 3,075 in 2000; 3,063 in 2001; 2,686 in 2002; 3,000 in 2003; 2,972 in 2004; 3,122 in 2006; 2,360 in 2007; and 3,458 in 2008.

The largest bear taken was a 668-pound (estimated live weight) male taken in Jefferson Township, Dauphin County, by Edward Bechtel, of Lykens, on Dec. 3. In all, 13 bears taken by hunters weighed 600 pounds or more.

Bears were taken in 54 counties, which is the same as 2008, but an increase from 2007, when bears were taken in 49 counties.