1 ndications 
are that the kill of bears in Pennsylvania will be con¬ 
siderably higher than last year because some early tracking snows 
made it possible to locate and pursue these animals more easily than 
during the 1920 season. Bears weighing 300 to 400 pounds hog 
dressed are not infrequent, but rarely are authentic reports received 
covering the killing of such extradordinary specimens as one recently 
killed in the southeastern part of Potter County, the carcass of which 
could not be dragged out of the forest with a mule. Experienced bear 
hunters composing the party estimated the weight at 550 pounds. 
The skin measured S feet 4 inches, and the sole of the hind foot 
measured 8V 2 inches, so that this animal was evidently a rare speci¬ 
men. 
1 have been requested to prepare a paper on “The Black Bear as 
a Game Animal in Pennsylvania” to be read at the Eighth National 
Game Conference held in New York City December 12th and 13th 
under the auspices, of the American Game Protective Association. 
In this paper I have given a complete history of legislation on 
bears in Pennsylvania, and hope same will prove of interest to rep¬ 
resentatives from most of the States and a number of Provinces of 
Canada there assembled. 
RABBITS: Because of the favorable breeding season last spring, 
as well as the restocking work done by the Department during the past 
winter, more rabbits were seen all over the State during the summer 
and early fall months than for 
four or more years past. 
In a few 
sections where vermin conditions are reported unfavorable, rabbits 
have apparently not materially increased. But of unfavorable 
weather conditions during the first month of the open season, the kill 
of rabbits may not equal that of 1920, although accurate estimates 
cannot be made until after reports are received from various parts 
of the State after the close of the season on December 15th. There 
is a great deal of sentiment among the sportsmen, especially in sec¬ 
tions where deer are hunted, against permitting the hunting of rab¬ 
bits in December, also because in December we usually have tracking 
snow which permits hunters to almost exterminate the stock re¬ 
maining over after November. 
SQUIRRELS: Early reports on squirrel conditions indicate that 
these animals have increased nicely during the past year, and in a 
number of sections sportsmen report better sqquirrel shooting than 
for some time past. Our unusually plentiful nut supply during the 
fall of 1920 with a mild winter was very favorable to squirrels. Many 
portions of the State are not adapted to squirrels at this time due to 
the cutting of our hardwood forests, and nut-bearing trees to supply 
food are now found in limited territories only. Young nut-bearing 
trees are plentiful in most sections of the State but not yet large 
enough to produce feed or suitable shelter. 
WILD TURKEYS: Reports received from practically all sec¬ 
tions where turkeys are found indicate that the birds remaining 
18 
over after the close of the 1920 hunting season wintered 
unusuallv 
well because of the mild weather prevailing, and that they hatched 
and raised good broods under favorable conditions last spring and 
summer. Early reports indicate that the kill of turkeys was prob¬ 
ably larger than usual because the season opened at the same time 
as the squirrel season, and the turkeys did not have the former two 
or three weeks in which to become wary when hunters approached. 
Regardless of this condition, it is the consensus of opinion among 
residents in turkey territory that the actual kill of turkeys will be 
no larger than heretofore when poaching frequently reduced large 
flocks during the squirrel and grouse season. 
-A- 11JL J.. Vtt. 
iicivc Apparently increased in 
most sections of the State, and with a favorable hatching and rear¬ 
ing season have again reached the point where, with careful protec¬ 
tion and continued conservative killing , these birds will furnish a 
fair amount of sport in many sections. Indications are that the 
weather conditions during the season just closed were not favorable 
to grouse shooting, and that we will have a fairly good supply of 
seed stock left over. While the bag limit was reduced by the last 
Legislature to three per day and fifteen for the season, but few pro¬ 
tests from sportsmen have been received concerning this reduced 
bag limit, and it is believed the great majority of hunters adhered 
strictly to this bag limit regardless of good shooting days following 
spells of unfavorable weather conditions that prevailed during the 
season. If our hunters will only continue conserving the grouse 
as they have during the past four seasons, there is no reason why 
we should not have a sufficient number of these gamest of all game 
birds to supply reasonable shooting for many years. 
RING-NECK PHEASANTS: Ring-necks are apparently increas¬ 
ing in most sections, and while twenty counties were closed this 
year to the shooting of these birds, indications are the reports will 
show that the number killed will be almost as large as last season. 
There seems to be a growing sentiment among our sportsmen to 
prohibit the shooting of female ring-neck pheasants, and by the time 
the next Legislature meets there will doubtless be a crystalization 
of sentiment in favor of restricting the killing of ring-necks to cocks 
only. The only objection to doing this is that some hunters may 
unintentionally kill female pheasants because they are not acquaint¬ 
ed with the birds and therefore unable to distinguish the sexes in 
flight, while others may occasionally kill female ring-neck pheasants 
in mistake for ruffed grouse. If the killing of ring-necks should be 
restricted to males only, the provision of our law T providing for the 
abatement of penalties where a mistake is made should be extended 
to apply to cases of this sort so that there might be an incentive, 
in addition to good sportsmanship, for hunters to report immediately 
errors of this kind and pay their penalty, and receive a return of a 
portion of same later on. 
1 !) 
