Opening Day Update: 14 Bears Checked at Chapman Township Fire Company by 4:30 PM

By Kevin Rauch

CHAPMAN TOWNSHIP-As of 4:30 PM on the opening day of bear rifle season 14 total bear were checked into the Station at the Chapman Township Fire Company, with an even split of 7 male and 7 female. The largest to that point in the day was a 228 pound male, while the largest female was 141, both of those were field dressed weights. Many hunters ventured in and out of the bear check while between the 3:30-4:30 one 77 pound juvenile male was brought in to be weighed and checked by PA Game Commission officials. Several of the hunters reported “not hearing a lot of shooting” while out in the woods, still, evening hours often find many hunters tacking to Chapman with a bear that took them several hours to get out of the woods due to their weight and location.