The archery season for black bear starts next week, and the rifle season the following week. Bear meat is often low on the list when it comes to eating wild game. Ask a few hunters, and they'll either love it or hate it. Those that say they hate it may not realize that bad experience they had on a taste test was the result of a hunter not properly caring for the animal.

According to statistics from the Pennsylvania Game Commission Pennsylvania hunters harvested a total of 3,748 bears in 2015, the third-highest tally in state history, with 68 of those bears topping 500 pounds. The harvest total represents an increase compared to 2014, when 3,371 bears were taken. In fact, the eight largest bear harvests all have occurred in the past decade.The all-time high was recorded in 2011, when 4,350 bears were harvested. Hunters harvested 4,164 in 2005 and 3,510 bears in 2013. Hunters in 2015 harvested bears in 57 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, an increase compared to 2014, when bears were taken in 56 counties. Bears were taken in 20 of the state's 23 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), and each of the Game Commission's six regions saw a larger harvest in 2015 compared to the previous year.The 68 bears harvested weighing 500 pounds or more represents a sharp increase from 2014, when 41 bears taken by hunters reached or exceeded the 500-pound mark. And 18 bears in the 2015 harvest topped 600 pounds.Based on long-range weather forecasts, the unseasonably warm weather will continue for the next few weeks. That makes it even more important to take steps to cool the bear carcass as quickly as possible. Field dress the bear as soon as possible, rinse out the body cavity and fill it with ice.Keep in mind that the bears have been filling their bellies since they emerged from hibernation in the spring. They should have layers of fat on them, plus that heat-soaking black hide. If the weather is warm, the meat can start to sour and the hide to slip (loose hair) within an hour of being shot.If you're going to hunt bear, have a plan. It is necessary to take the bear to one of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's check stations. Make sure you have the address and phone number on hand for your hunt, and have a plan for transporting the bear, both out of the woods and to the check station.Since the condition of the bear hide is an important factor for various mounts, the bear should be brought from the woods on a cart or other device to keep from dragging it along the ground. Also, decide how you plan to use the hide, if you're fortunate to bag a bear. You have many options, from full-body mounts to head mounds, and from tanned hides to rugs. You should give that topic some thought before the hunt, because there are various ways to skin a bear for different types of mounts.For the full body mount, most taxidermists like what's called a dorsal cut, which is a cut running the full length of the bear's back, from the ears down to the tail, with everything rolled down to the feet. For a half-body mount, the cut should be circular around the body just in front of the hind legs. The hide is rolled off the bear like a sock, leaving the skull and paws attached to the hide. For the shoulder mount the circular cut should be just behind the front legs. For a bear rug, the hunter should follow the field-dressing incision to the chest, then down each leg, leaving the paws attached to the hide and cutting the bone at the wrist joint.Also, in the field, take some measurements for the taxidermist. The hunter should measure the length of the bear from the nose to the root of the tail, and should also measure the circumference of the bear, around the body behind the front legs. The hide and skull should be put into a plastic bag and then into the freezer. It should be kept frozen for the trip to the taxidermist.