While hunting is often challenging, bagging the perfect gift for the hunters in one's life is as easy as placing a phone call or logging onto The Outdoor Shop at the Pennsylvania Game Commission's website at

www.pgc.state.pa.us or by calling toll free to 1-888-888-3459.Among other gifts available this holiday season, the PGC is offering two new books that already are selling briskly and being met with rave reviews. "Pennsylvania Deer Hunting, Through the Pages of Game News" is a collection of classic deer-hunting stories that have been published over the years in "Pennsylvania Game News" magazine. This 174-page collection was compiled by Pennsylvania outdoors writer Tyler Frantz and sells for $15.50.Also available is the "Pennsylvania Game Commission Game Cookbook, Second Edition," which contains a collection of big-game, small-game and wild fowl recipes submitted by camp cooks from across Pennsylvania. These spiral-bound 108-page cookbooks are priced at $9.43, and the books are among many gifts available.Also popular this holiday season is the 2014 edition of the "Pennsylvania Big Game Records Book," which this year is printed in color and contains photos of many of the new entries. And hardcover and soft-cover editions of "Gone for Another Day," the recent sequel to the classic Ned Smith compilation, are available, as well.There are many new collectible patches, including the nine-patch Youth Hunt series, the 2014 Elk Hunt patch, the 2015 Field Notes patch and the 2015 Working Together for Wildlife patch featuring a groundhog. Also the Working Together for Wildlife groundhog print also is being offered.As always, the latest version of the PGC wildlife calendar, gift subscriptions to "Pennsylvania Game News" magazine and other merchandise are available at the website and might just make for the perfect gift. There is something for everybody and something in everybody's price range."Searching for the perfect gift is a lot like hunting," PGC executive director Matt Hough said. "You know that what you're looking for is out there, but the real trick is figuring out where to find it."I urge anyone shopping for hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts to check out what the Game Commission has to offer this holiday season. I know many of these items would top my wish list, and it makes me feel good to think how happy they will make all who receive them as gifts."*******Hunters harvested 417 bears during the second day of Pennsylvania's statewide bear season, increasing the total harvest to 2,040 over the season's first two days, according to preliminary totals released by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Archery and other early bear season harvest data still is being entered into the PGC database and is not available at this time.Bears have been harvested in 53 counties during the statewide season so far, and the top 10 bears processed at check stations were either estimated or confirmed to have live weights of 552 pounds or more. Largest of those bears - a male estimated at 677 pounds - was taken in Pittsfield Township, Warren County by Jim Hultberg of Pittsfield.The top bear harvest county in the state on the first day of season was Lycoming County with 183.Two-day day harvests for local regions and counties:Northeast (345): Pike, 67; Bradford, 44; Sullivan, 42; Luzerne, 40; Monroe, 33; Susquehanna, 27; Wayne, 26; Carbon, 24; Wyoming, 22; Lackawanna, 11; Columbia, 7; and Northumberland, 2.Southeast (41): Schuylkill, 22; Dauphin, 13; Berks, 3; Lebanon, 1; Lehigh, 1; and Northampton, 1.*******Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," winner of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association's best outdoors radio program award hosted by award-winning POWA member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410-AM WLSH, at 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at

www.wmgh.com by clicking the link to the program, features Ben Reynolds of My Core Control Heated Camo Hunting Jackets.