Four days of the statewide four-day bear season have produced a preliminary harvest of 2,639 bears, according to state Game Commission check station reports.
Last year's four-day bear harvest total was 3,154; in 2010, which offered a three-day season with a Saturday opener, the harvest total was 2,815.
Harvest results from the early bear season, including the statewide archery bear season, won't be available until mid-December.
Official total bear harvest results will be available in early 2013, after a detailed review of each harvest report is completed.
Preliminary bear harvest totals do change occasionally by a few bears.
The top 10 bears processed at check stations, so far, all had actual or estimated live weights that exceeded 562 pounds.
Joseph A. Spano, of East Stroudsburg, has harvested the largest bear so far this season. Taken Nov. 21, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, the male bear had an actual live weight of 709 pounds.
Other large bears (all but one are estimated live weights) included a:
620-pound male, taken by Robert A. Pitts, of Meadville, in Roulette Township, Potter County, on Nov. 17;
586-pound male, taken by Brian K. Stuebgen, of Renfrew, in Sergeant Township, McKean County, Nov. 19;
576-pound male, taken by Dana L. Landis, of Chambersburg, in Southampton Township, Bedford County, Nov. 19;
After four days of the four-day season, the top bear harvest county in the state remained Lycoming with 262. The rest of the lineup of the top five counties for bear harvests, so far, are:
Potter 109; and
573-pound male taken by Michael J. Kelly, of Pittsburgh, in Harmony Township, Forest County, on Nov. 21; and
