The largest Black Bear I know of was not taken, and for all I know may still be alive...Dr Gary Ault, while he was the Pa. Game Com. Black Bear program, told me about an old boar that lived/lives in Pike county Pa, that they call scar belly. He got the name scar belly because he was hit by a Nissan pickup (he totaled it !) and it left him with a big scar on his coat. Dr. Ault claims to have darted the bear coming out of hibernation, and weighed it. Coming out of hibernation, it weighed almost 800lbs. He said that the bear would be pushing 1000 lbs. going into hibernation. To my knowledge, he was never taken. Dr Ault said he didn't think it would ever be taken, too smart.

We hunted for that bear for several years. We saw him prior to the bear season, but never during......the SOB knew when the season started !! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Check out the 2003 Harvest stats :

The top 10 black bears taken so far in the bear seasons include three 800-pounders and two 700-pounders. In total, there were 17 bears exceeding 600 pounds. A listing of the top 10 bears and the hunters who took them, are:

864-pound male taken in Dingman Township, Pike County, on Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. by Douglas Kristiansen of Milford.

837-pound male taken in Dingman Township, Pike County, on Dec. 1 at 11:30 a.m. by Ray R. Reper of Branchville, New Jersey.

808-pound male taken in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, on Dec. 1 at 10:30 a.m. by Jason A. Taddeo of Bethlehem.

739-pound male taken in Weatherly Township, Carbon County, on Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. by Brian J. Coxe of Weatherly.

725-pound male taken in Sweden Township, Potter County, on Nov. 24 at 7:45 a.m. by Benjamin A. Long of Coudersport.

664-pound male taken in Greene Township, Pike County, on Dec. 2 at 8:30 a.m. by Thomas J. Young of Jacksonville, Florida.

661-pound male taken in Tell Township, Huntingdon County, on Nov. 25 at 7:30 a.m. by Gregg E. Walls of Dry Run.

648-pound male taken in Cherry Ridge Township, Wayne County, on Nov. 24 at 2:45 p.m. by Andrew G. Box of Honesdale.

644-pound male taken in Knox Township, Clarion County, on Nov. 24 at 9:30 a.m. by Brandon S. Carson of Monongahela.

642-pound male taken in Beech Creek Township, Clinton County, on Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m. by James S. Hoover of Lititz.


Here is the link : Pa Game Com. Pres Release

Tony.