If taking a Pennsylvania black bear is the ultimate challenge in the mind's of most hunters, then taking a bear with a bow is off the charts.

Beginning Monday, the five-day, statewide Pennsylvania archery bear season begins and precedes the four-day, statewide firearms season that opens Saturday, Nov. 22, and concludes Wednesday, Nov. 26.Limited bear seasons are also held during all or portions of the opening week of the statewide firearms deer seasons, Monday-Saturday, Dec. 1-6, in Wildlife Management Units 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E, with the list of opening and closing days on Page 33 of the "2014-15 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest" issued to hunters when they purchase their licenses and on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website at

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/.Last year the trend continued of recent years being some of the best on record for Pennsylvania bear hunting, and this year the potential is there for that trend to continue.Hunters took 3,510 last year, which ranks as the fifth-largest in state history, following the all-time total of 4,350 in 2011 and the third-largest total of 3,632 in 2012.Of last year's overall total, just 197 were taken during the archery seasons, which easily makes taking a bear with a bow in Pennsylvania is the ultimate challenge.One of those archery bears ranked No. 9 on the list of heaviest bears - a board with an actual live weight of 598 pounds and taken by Randall Tressler of McVeytown in Wayne Township, Mifflin County.Unlike sighting-in a rifle by using a standard bull's-eye target, to get a true sight picture of a bear's vital area it is recommend to use a 3-D target when practicing with a bow. All possible shooting scenarios should also be considered when practicing, meaning shots should be taken while standing, kneeling and sitting.According to PGC bear biologist Mark Ternent many of the elements required for another exceptional bear season are in place for this year.Statewide bear populations are at record levels, with an estimated 18,000 bears living within Pennsylvania.Additionally, Ternent said the statewide acorn crop is markedly improved compared to last year, with what he calls a "bumper mast crop" distributed throughout many ridges and valleys within the tradition core bear-hunting areas of Lycoming, Clinton and Centre counties seeing some of their heaviest mast crops in the past 10 years. Other areas of the state also are reporting excellent acorn crops, and higher mast yields typically lead to better hunter success."When plenty of food is available bears tend to stay more active during hunting seasons, rather than entering their dens early," Ternent said."They also tend to be more widely dispersed and travel less, which means that bears discovered during preseason scouting typically still can be found in the same area come hunting season."Another important factor in the bear forecast is what so far has been an increase in the number of hunters purchasing bear licenses. Through the end of October, bear license sales were up by nearly 7 percent, compared to year-to-date sales from a year ago."With bear licenses remaining on sale up until the night before the general season, upwards of 170,000 hunters are likely to be licensed to pursue bear this year.Increased hunter participation typically leads to larger harvests and, in some cases, better hunter success."PGC executive director Matt Hough said perhaps no other hunting season in Pennsylvania is as rich with tradition as the annual statewide bear season.He said the fact a record number of bear licenses likely will be sold this year reinforces that point and shows it is no longer a secret that Pennsylvania provides some of the best bear-hunting opportunities out there."All the pieces are all in place for yet another banner year of bear hunting in Pennsylvania," Hough said."Only time will tell if a record number of hunters will bring about a record harvest, but I can guarantee all of those who celebrate our hunting heritage in this special season have a fantastic opportunity to harvest an exceptional animal."Ternent said that bears are not only plentiful, but that some very large bears await hunters in Pennsylvania.Last year, 58 bears weighing 500 pounds or more, and nine weighing 600 pounds or more were taken - with the heaviest a boar with an estimated live weight of 772 pounds in Lackawanna County - and bears were taken in 53 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.All bears taken must be reported to the PGC during the four-day firearms season at one of its check stations within 24 hours. Taking bears to a check station also might be required in WMUs where bear hunting is permitted during all or a portion of the firearms deer season, and a complete list of requirements, check stations and their dates and hours of operation can be found on pages 34 and 35 of the "2014-15 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest."Hunters who take a bear during the archery season must within 24 hours contact the PGC region office that serves the county in which the bear was taken for checking instructions.