879 pound Black Bear taken - PA

[Sendero4406]

BUSHKILL, Pa. — An 879-pound black bear brought down by a bow hunter this week was the largest ever recorded in the state, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The 17-year-old bruin was killed by hunter David Price on Monday, during a statewide archery hunt just north of Fernwood Resort in northeastern Pennsylvania's Pike County.

With an estimated live weight of 879 pounds, the bruin was 15 pounds heavier than the previous record holder, an 864-pound bear killed in Pike County in 2003.

"This bear could be No. 1 in the world," game commission spokesman Tim Conway told the Pocono Record.

The world record is determined by skull size. Officials say the bear's skull will be measured after 60 days.

Since 1992, officials said, six bears weighing at least 800 pounds have been killed in Pennsylvania.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I have the pic on my cell phone I thought it was a hoax PM me your number if you havent seen it.

 

[dirtball]

Quick Google

Record-busting, 879-pound bear bagged in Poconos | PoconoRecord.com

 

[HUAINAMACHERO]

That is one huge!!! black bear.
Very interesting and awesome trophy indeed.

 

[lazylabs]

Awesome bear but exactly how far back are people going to get behind their trophies to make them look bigger....... makes it harder to get a real sense of size.

 

[Magnumitis]

I know... I can understand being arm's length away, but to sit 5-10 yards behind it makes things pretty unrealistic.

 

[Guy M]

This bear is bigger than many grizzlies! Good grief.

A few years ago I was surprised to learn of the size of bear that is taken with some regularity in Pennsylvania, and elsewhere "back east." Typically a pretty good bear around my home here in Washington State is 300+ pounds, although some get considerably bigger.

A black bear at 800 anything is absolutely HUGE!

Amazing stuff that. And with a bow. Great job. I did read somewhere that this bear was rather used to people, and being fed by them... Still, it's one heck of a big bear.

Guy

 

[ddelle338]

Not to take away from the size of the "Trophy" but, the bear was raised by a local man from a cub. He was hand fed all the time. Local restaurants would set food out back for him. So he would make his rounds almost like clockwork. Everybody (locals) knew him and some idiots actually put their kids on his back and he would let them ride him. He was a community pet. None of that was proper, even fair to that bear. He should have been left alone. IMHO

 

[LawShark]

Those idiots in the articles feeding this bear were the problem. It is ILLEGAL to feed bear in PA. Does not matter if hunting or spotting, it is illegal.

 

[CHARLIEDUECE65]

Pretty weak and inhumane to kill a tame bear, bet he's real proud of himself. Sounds like the singer Troy Gentry killing a tame bear here in MN just to have a trophy on his wall.

 

[screech]

if I seen a bear that size around here id almost think id seen sasquatch

 

[jimbires]

did the hunter know it was the areas pet ?

 

[LawShark]

My buddy has bears in his yard that play his with dogs but he doesnt consider them tame. This kids riding on him, petting him is urban legend. It was not tame by any means. It was an old bear in a populated area, so it learned to be less afraid of humans but it would be scared off and worse kill a human.

It's not like this guy went to the zoo and shot a bear. It was wild, traveled, mated, hibernated.

 

[ddelle338]

did the hunter know it was the areas pet ?

Yep,
Now from what I read, They, (him and his hunting party) knew it was there but, I'm not sure any of them knew his exact routine. But I believe they knew enough about it that they did a little drive that pushed the bear right to him.