A visual representation of bear hunting success across the Commonwealth, delineated by individual county lines, provides a spatial understanding of harvest distribution. This cartographic tool illustrates the number of bears taken by hunters within each county during a specific hunting season. Data sources for these maps typically include the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s official harvest records.
Such visualizations are invaluable for wildlife management and conservation efforts. They enable wildlife biologists and policymakers to identify areas with high bear populations and assess the effectiveness of hunting regulations. Tracking harvest numbers over time, displayed geographically, allows for monitoring population trends, identifying potential habitat issues, and informing decisions about hunting license allocations and season lengths. Historically, these maps have played a vital role in adaptive management strategies for Pennsylvania’s black bear population.
