Pennsylvania’s three-day black bear season literally started with a bang Monday.

Hunters were as successful as they have ever been, bagging 1,897 bears, up about 10 percent from 1,725 last year and 89 percent from 1,005 in 2007.

But bear kills were actually down in the Valley. Three fewer bears — 37 — were taken Monday than on opening day in 2008.

Coming on the heels of the state’s two-day archery bear season — Nov. 18-19 — the three-day bear season runs just before the firearms deer season, which begins Monday.

Not only were bears taken in large numbers, trophy bears were taken in nearly every corner of the state.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations on Monday all had estimated live weights that exceeded 550 pounds.

Terence Burkhardt, of Jim Thorpe, harvested the largest bear, a 654-pound male taken in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County.

“Because our bear population (near 15,000) now covers more than three-quarters of the state — and includes a number of world-class trophy bears — Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the top states for bear hunters,” said Carl Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Every year, we have a number of bears exceeding 500 pounds included in the harvest.”

Another 654-pound male was also killed in Penn Forest Township on Monday, and three other 600-pound bears were taken around the state.

In Union County, there were 21 kills Monday, down from 22 on the opening day last year, while 14 were harvested in Snyder Country, down from 17 in 2007. Two black bears were killed in Northumberland County, up from one last year.

According to the Game Commission, more black bears have been killed statewide since 2000 than in any other decade since records were first kept in 1915.

“Our black bear population is a remarkable resource,” said commission black bear biologist Mark Ternent. “Every year since 2000, more than 100,000 hunters have headed afield in pursuit of bears, with harvests exceeding 3,000 most years, yet many local bear populations have remained stable or increased.

“It’s a good time to be a bear hunter.”

Nearby Clinton and Lycoming counties have large numbers of bears harvested every year, and they are off to a fast start again. More than 250 bears were taken in Lycoming County a year ago, the second most in the state.

On Monday, 153 bears were taken in Lycoming, up from 135 on last year’s opening day, while there were nearly three times as many kills in Clinton this year, 152, as last year, 55.