Pa. hunter found guilty of using pastries to bait 707-pound bear, biggest killed in ‘09 season

Pa. man found guilty of baiting bear with pastries

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania hunter has been found guilty of using pastries to illegally bait the largest bear killed in the state during the 2009 season.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission says the 39-year-old Wilkes-Barre (WILKS’-behr-ee) resident was found guilty Thursday and was ordered to pay $6,800 in fines and restitution, plus court costs.

Game Commission officials say the hunter admitted using bait to help him attract and kill the 707-pound bear. They say he first raised suspicions when he was spotted a week before the hunting season driving a truck loaded with pastries through a heavily hunted area.

The man also faces the loss of hunting privileges for three years.