Bear check station in Trout Run moved to Hepburn Township
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For a number of years, area residents have called the Trout Run Fire Hall home when it comes to bear check stations for hunting season. But this year, that location is being changed.
There's eight check stations in the entire Northcentral Region when it comes to hunting, and the Trout Run Fire Hall's station will now be the Hepburn Township Fire Hall.
Tropical Storm Debbie's impact in the area with flood waters caused damage throughout Trout Run, and the building where the check station was needs repaired from those flood waters.
"In the meantime, Hepburn Township has been awesome in seeing folks seek refuge there, get resources and have our bear check station there," said Mercy Melo, the wildlife management supervisor for the Northcentral Region of the Game Commission.
Check stations during hunting season allow people, both hunters and non-hunters, to see various animals that were harvested up close in person. And the bear check station seems to be popular every year.
Bear hunters are required to bring bears they harvest to one of the check stations within 24 hours of killing the animal.
"It's open to the public and a lot of our check stations take advantage by having fundraisers," Melo said.
Last year, the Trout Run Fire Hall held a raffle and had lots of food for sale with proceeds going to help the fire hall.
"That's accurate for all the check stations. It's a full weekend before Thanksgiving and it's great to take the family to," Melo said. "We rely on them because otherwise we'd only have one check station, which is just here at the office (of Game Commission). We like to help them out whenever we can."
The regular firearm season for bears is Nov. 23-26. The early season opens Oct. 18, which is sooner than previous seasons.
Last season saw a lot of success throughout bear hunting, and 2024 should hopefully be more of the same.
In 2023, bears were harvested in 58 of the Commonwealth's 67 counties. In addition, 695 bears were harvested during archery season, seven in early archery season, 424 in muzzleloader season, 117 in special firearms season and 1,086 in the general season. Pennsylvania also saw 591 in the extended season.
Quakertown's Mitchell Jonathan had the largest bear taken in last year during extended rifle season which weighed 691 pounds. Seeing a massive bear as such is part of the thrill of going to bear check stations to see what hunters will bring in.
In total last year, 2,920 bears were harvested throughout Pennsylvania. A total of 170 bears were harvested in Lycoming County last year, 108 in Clinton County, 176 in Tioga County, 75 in Sullivan County, ten in Northumberland County and 17 in Union County. Lycoming had the second-highest harvest of bears last year, behind only Tioga. Potter County was third with 155.