Campers at the recent Norm Thornburg Youth Conservation Camp held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds had an unexpected seminar when Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife conservation officer Kevin Clouser stopped by with a sedated black bear that had been trapped in Schuylkill County.

Bears have been extremely active this spring with sightings being reported in residential areas where they have not been seen before. Clouser said he had received complaints about the bear, which after being shown to the campers was released on the Blue Mountain.In Tioga County, WCO Bob Minnich reports he has been handling bear complaints since May. He said bears are still active in the Northern Tier and are still causing problems."I tell people when asked about bears and traps that it is like playing chess, but the bears always seem to be at least one move ahead of us," Minnich said. "We do catch some and help keep some complaints from progressing, but the best thing is to clean areas up and avoid attracting them in the first place."In one week during June, I handled five bears from 100 to 425 pounds. With the number and size of bear being seen it looks as though it is going to be another banner bear season as long as the weather cooperates."Minnich said that most of the bears he caught this past month were able to be used in educational programs. Bears were all tranquilized and processed for audiences and then relocated, hopefully educating bears to avoid humans in future.Meanwhile, Pike and Monroe counties WCO Mark Kropa reports he is investigating a case where a bear head was dumped in a garbage bag at a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources parking area along Old Greentown Road. It was discovered by some birdwatchers that turned it over to a Promised Land State Park ranger, and anyone with information is asked to contact the PGC Northeast Region office at 570-675-1143.*****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 "Inner-loc Out There" outdoors television program host Corey Brossman.*****A 30-target, 3-D hunting course is open daily from dawn to dusk, except Sundays from 1-4 p.m. for trap, at Bear's Head Archery, located off Exit 134, I-81, Delano. For information call the club at 570-467-0331.*****First Frontier Militia, the muzzleloader group associated with Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, Gun Club Road, located off Route 248, will hold a shoot Sunday, July 13, From 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For information call Ken Milburn at 610-767-6222 or Dave Algard at 610-760-8333.*****Pennsylvania hunting licenses for the current 014-15 seasons are now on sale electronically through the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Outdoor Shop, which can be accessed at

www.theoutdoorshop.state.pa.us, or at license-issuing agents, including county court houses. In addition to general hunting licenses, migratory bird permits, bear licenses, a second spring gobbler license, furbearer licenses and DMAP permits are also on sale.Antlerless applications for state residents will be accepted by county treasurers through the mail beginning Monday, July 14. Non-resident applications will be accepted through the mail beginning Monday, July 28.Beginning Monday, Aug. 4, a second round of applications for residents and non-residents begins through the mail. A third round of applications for residents and non-residents begins Monday, Aug. 18.