NORTHEAST, PA — The number of bears taken across the state of Pennsylvania continues to remain high, with the official number of bears taken by hunters in 2014 confirmed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) at 3,366.

That is the seventh highest take on record. According to a press release from the PGC issued on February 11, “The all-time high was recorded in 2011, when 4,350 bears were harvested. Hunters harvested 3,510 bears in 2013—the third-largest harvest on record.”

In Pike County, 111 bears were harvested, while the number in Wayne County was 87.

The heaviest bear weighed 630 pounds and was taken by Leon J. Graham in Pine Township in Warren County during the bear archery season.

The PGC says 173,523 hunters bought state bear licenses in 2014, which is a record high. The mast crop—which consists of acorns, leaf buds, catkins and other natural foods consumed by forest animals—was said to be quite good throughout much of the state’s main bear-hunting areas.

Mark Ternent, the PGC’s bear biologist, said overall the year was a success and the trend will likely continue next year.

The statewide bear population has remained stable over the past seven years, with the population estimated most recently at 18,100 bears, Ternent said. Interest in bear hunting has remained high, as verified by license sales.

“It’s always difficult to predict exactly how good bear hunting will be in a given year,” Ternent said. “But it clear we’ve had several banner years in the past decade, and there’s nothing to indicate fantastic bear hunting won’t continue in 2015 and beyond.”