Glouco men charged with illegally killing bear in Pennsylvania

Two men from Gloucester County are facing criminal charges for allegedly killing a black bear in Pennsylvania outside of the state's hunting season.

James Mauger, 27, of Williamstown, and John Sutton, 29, of Newfield, have been charged with unlawful killing and other offenses for the Nov. 28 kill in Cambria County, according to court records.

That was two days before the extended bear season opened in parts of the county, according to the Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown.

The pair hid the bear on state game lands and covered it with a tarp; the animal was later found by someone else, the newspaper reported. The two were caught when they returned to the woods to take the bear away.

Pennsylvania's four-day black bear season ended Nov. 23, but an extended hunt took place in some areas this week.

A total of 2,579 bears were killed during the general hunt, according to preliminary figures from the state Game Commission.