As expected, 2014 was yet another successful year for bear hunters in Pennsylvania.

In fact, the 3,366 bears taken during all the hunting seasons comes in at No. 7 on the all-time list according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.That total means that the seven highest totals have occurred within the last 10 years, including the all-time record of 4,350 in 2011. Other totals since 2005 and their ranking are: 2005, No. 3, 4,164; 2009, No. 4, 3,512; 2013, No. 5, 3,510; and 2008, No. 6, 3,458.In 2014 bears were taken in 56 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, an increase compared to 2013, when bears were taken in 53 counties. Likewise, bears were taken in 21 of the state's 23 Wildlife Management Units, which also is an increase compared to 2013, when bears were taken in 20 WMUs.An impressive total of 41 bears taken in 2014 weighed 500 pounds or more, including the heaviest with an estimated live weight of 677 pounds, by Jim Hultber of Pittsfield in Pittsfield Township, Warren County, in the general season. Also topping 600 pounds was the 630-pounder by Leon Graham of Morris in Pine Township, Lycoming County, during the statewide archery season; and a 623-pounder by Fred Stoltzfus of Lewisburg in West Buffalo Township, Union County, in the general season.Completing the 10 heaviest bears of 2014 include are a 598-pounder taken in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County, by Jeff McClymonds of Slippery Rock in the general season; a 597-pounder taken in Delmar Township, Tioga County, by John Thrush of Boiling Springs in the general season; a 596-pounder taken in Forks Township, Sullivan County, by Gary Heinsey of Denver in the extended season; a 584-pounder taken in Washington Township, Jefferson County, by Dan Whaling of Falls Creek in the statewide archery season; a 579-pounder taken in Armstrong Township, Indiana County, by Gabriel Heckman of Shelocta in the general season; a 574-pounder taken in Tyrone Township, Blair County, by Ray Golden, Jr. of Tyrone in the general season; and a 561-pounder taken in Sugarcreek Township, Venango County, by Heath Bromley of Oil City during the statewide archery season.Lycoming County, perennially among the top counties for bears, again led the way with 286 in 2014, up from 234 the previous year. Among other top counties for bear in 2014 are Tioga, 274 (286 in 2013); Clinton, 179 (133); Potter 157 (196); and Centre, 117 (96).As usual the four-day general season again set the pace for overall success with 2,447 bears being taken, but the extended seasons and the archery bear season also contributed to the totals. Statewide, 740 bears were taken in extended seasons, and 170 were taken during the archery bear season.Tioga County claimed the highest total in extended seasons with 71 bears taken after the close of the general statewide bear season. Other top counties during the extended seasons are Lycoming, 59; Wayne, 52; Bradford, 49; and Potter, 46.Final county totals by region, with 2013 figures in parentheses, are:Northwest - 394: Warren, 100 (148); Venango, 71 (70); Jefferson, 56 (70); Clarion, 54 (59); Forest, 41 (50); Butler, 28 (24); Crawford, 26 (36); Erie, 13 (6); and Mercer, 5 (3).Southwest - 311: Somerset, 108 (106); Fayette, 103 (67); Armstrong, 35 (43); Westmoreland, 29 (41); Indiana, 19 (49); Cambria, 15 (26); and Allegheny, 2 (3).Northcentral - 1,382: Lycoming, 286 (234); Tioga, 274 (286); Clinton, 179 (133); Potter 157 (196); Centre, 117 (96); McKean, 100 (108); Elk, 79 (103); Cameron, 76 (108); Clearfield, 72 (125); and Union, 42 (41).Southcentral - 390: Huntingdon, 88 (67); Bedford, 70 (55); Perry, 55 (16); Mifflin, 42 (31); Blair, 41 (29); Fulton, 28 (19); Juniata, 28 (28); Franklin, 19 (9); Snyder, 14 (18); Cumberland, 4 (1); and Adams, 1 (0).Northeast - 794: Pike, 111 (150); Bradford, 108 (96); Wayne, 87 (127); Monroe, 79 (79); Sullivan, 76 (105); Luzerne, 74 (98); Susquehanna, 74 (56); Wyoming, 55 (66); Lackawanna, 51 (48); Carbon, 47 (57); Columbia, 23 (24); Northumberland, 8 (14); and Montour, 1 (0).Southeast - 95: Schuylkill, 39 (35); Dauphin, 35 (23); Northampton, 9 (18); Berks, 6 (4); Lehigh 4 (0); and Lebanon, 2 (7).Final bear totals by Wildlife Management Unit, with final 2013 figures in parentheses, are:WMU 1A, 12 (16); WMU 1B, 90 (94); WMU 2A, 1 (0) WMU 2B, 3 (4); WMU 2C, 290 (247); WMU 2D, 148 (171); WMU 2E, 48 (93); WMU 2F, 262 (309); WMU 2G, 622 (575); WMU 2H, 68 (87); WMU 3A, 286 (362); WMU 3B, 366 (364); WMU 3C, 168 (196); WMU 3D, 296 (393); WMU 4A, 106 (80); WMU 4B, 141 (67); WMU 4C, 120 (93); WMU 4D, 260 (275); WMU 4E, 63 (68); WMU 5A, 4 (0); WMU 5B, 0 (1); and WMU 5C, 12 (16).A record number of hunters - 173,523 - bought Pennsylvania bear licenses in 2014, surpassing the previous record - 167,438 - set in 2013. Weather conditions were less than ideal through portions of the bear seasons, including the statewide archery season, with the 170 bears taken slightly less than the 197 taken in 2013.