Pennsylvania man kills 679-pound male black bear at 5 yards with .357 handgun: report
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Pennsylvania man reportedly killed a 679-pound black bear that was five yards away with a .357 handgun during last weekend's opening of the state's four-day bear harvest.
Jordan M. Tutmaher, the man, said the bear emerged near a Christmas tree patch, according to the report. YourErie.com reported.
A total of 1,241 black bears were killed in the opening day, the report said. The state's best opening day was in 2011 when 1,936 bears were harvested.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE: The Louisiana black bear is one of 16 subspecies of the American black bear. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
The largest bear harvested that day was a male estimated at 704 pounds, taken by a rifle at about 8:30 a.m., the report said. .
Bears have been harvested in 53 counties during the statewide season so far, the report said.