fbpx

New Pope & Young Black Bear World Record is Set

By Brodie SwisherFebruary 17, 2020

 

Following a recent meeting during the Great American Outdoors Show, the Pope and Young Club crowned a new Pope & Young World Record Black Bear. The meeting took place on February 8th in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. When it was all wrapped up, Jeff Melillo’s massive black bear was confirmed with a score of 23 5/16 and is now the largest bow-harvested black bear in North America.

Measurers present at the Special Panel were (pictured L to R) Dan Lynch, of Pennsylvania, P&Y Director of Records, Eli Randall, Terry Mollett of Pennsylvania, and Timothy Walsh of New Jersey.

“I knew I was going to be looking at an impressive Black Bear skull, as it was officially measured at over 23 inches and weighed in at 700 pounds,” said Eli Randall, Records Director for the Pope and Young Club.

“I was not prepared for the amount of mass the skull possessed, not only was the skull huge, but the bone structure was the heaviest I had ever seen. Congratulations to Jeff Melillo on harvesting this outstanding black bear. This is a true testament to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and a shining beacon of what can be accomplished with efforts and funds being dedicated to wildlife.”

Jeff Melillo with his new World Record Black Bear.
 This World Record Black Bear has been entered into the 32nd recording period representing entries accepted into the P&Y Records Program from January 1st, 2019, to December 31st, 2020. At the close of every biennial recording period, numerical awards and honorable mentions are awarded to the most outstanding bow-harvested animals in each species category that have been entered during this two-year recording period.
 
New World’s Records are verified and proclaimed, and awards are presented to these outstanding animals during the Pope and Young Club’s Biennial Convention and Awards Banquet
Brodie Swisher
Brodie Swisher is a world champion game caller, outdoor writer, seminar speaker and Editor for Bowhunting.com. Brodie and his family live in the Kentucky Lake area of west Tennessee.
Post a Comment
Login To Account

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *