Bear Hunting

First Bear Taken in Putnam County New York

Published

6 months ago

April 10, 2020

John Corrao is no stranger to the Putnam County woods. As the President of the Westchester/Putnam Branch of the QDMA, John spends countless hours in the field improving habitat for whitetails and other game.

After his bee hive was destroyed twice in late September, John had a feeling a bear was around. With a newly established bear season in Putnam County this would be the first time that John would be able to take a bear in this part of the state.

With trail cams running throughout the property, John was hoping to get pictures of the bear, but the bear never showed up.

John had about two hours to hunt on the afternoon of October 26th and decided to try and take a doe between two food plots near the house. John watched as 12-15 deer fed in some clover that was growing in the fruit orchard.

Suddenly, the deer scattered running in every direction. A full twenty minutes passed before John saw what scared the deer as a black bear appeared. Instead of walking in the clover where the deer were the bear hooked a turn towards John’s ladder stand. John drew back his Hoyt Carbon Element took aim as the black bear approached. When the bear presented a shot opportunity John squeezed the release and watched as the bear turned and ran, crashing just 30 yards away.

The black bear weighed in at 250 pounds and had very little stomach contents – this was one hungry bear. What made this bear so special was that it’s the first bear John’s ever seen while hunting, the first arrow he release from his new bow, and the first black bear taken in Putnam County! That’s a lot of firsts! Congrats to John on an awesome black bear and a great hunt.

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Bear Hunting

New York’s First Early Black Bear Season a Success

Published

6 months ago

April 10, 2020

NYBowhunter

A flourishing black bear population and a newly established early-season give hunters additional opportunities to hunt black bears in New York.

The NYS DEC took a proactive approach to manage the State’s black bear population with the addition of an early black bear season in select WMUs for 2014. The early bear hunting season started on September 6th in portions of Southeastern New York and September 13th in Northern New York

Some of the highlights of the new plan include:

New early firearms bear season from September 6-21 in WMUs 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, and 4R. Any hunting implement, including crossbows, are legal for use during the early black bear season.
Expanded bear hunting in northern New York which now includes WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N. In these newly opened units, bear hunting begins with bowhunting equipment only from September 13 through October 17.

The downside with the early season bear hunting is the heat – the opening day had temperatures in the mid to high 80s with high humidity. Bear hunters will have to skin their harvest as quickly as possible to cool the meat and prevent spoilage. Hunters might also want to skin and quarter the bear in the field and picking out the meat in game bags.

Here’s a video from one successful hunter during this year’s early black bear season:

Bear Hunting

Black Bears Around Campsites and Hiking Trails

Published

6 months ago

April 10, 2020

NYBowhunter

Recently, the NYS DEC issued some warnings about camping in areas with black bears. I frequently visit areas like this and it’s good to refresh yourself no matter how seasoned of a backpacker, hiker, or camper you are. Here are some tips from the DEC to remember while camping and hiking in bear country:

Store food, toiletries and garbage in bear resistant containers or “food hangs.” If you have no choice but to hang your food, be sure to use a dark colored cord. The cord should be 75 feet long and the bag should be hung 15 feet above the ground and at least 10 feet away from trees.
Keep food in hangs or in bear resistant container at all times, take down only what is needed for cooking. Bear resistant canisters are a highly effective means for preventing bears from getting food, toiletries and garbage from back country campers. For more information about bear resistant containers, see the DEC webpage at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7225.html.
Bear resistant containers are required to be used by all overnight campers within the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness Zone of the Adirondack Forest Preserve.
Never leave food unattended unless it is in a bear resistant container or in a food hang.
Never cook or eat in your sleeping area.
Cook early, no later than 5 p.m.

Bear Hunting

Maine Black Bear Raffle

Published

6 months ago

April 10, 2020

NYBowhunter

This was something I came across that you don’t quite hear about everyday, but I thought it was worth mentioning and spreading the word about.In the little town of North Berwick, Maine, 200 Noble High School students are trying to raise $100,000 for a school music trip down to New York City. However, selling cup cakes just wasn’t cutting it so one of the student’s grandfather decided to offer up a raffle for a 6-day black bear hunt.

Grandfather of a choral student in the school music department and a Master Maine Guide, Varney figured the sale of $10 tickets for a chance to hunt at one of his son’s 50 “bear sites” might help raise the funds needed for the children to make the trip.

The winner gets lodging and meals for two at one of the family’s bear camps in northwestern Maine for the first week of the 2008 bear-hunting season. Hot and cold running water, “a flush toilet,” bedding and meals — including a lobster bake and “trash can turkey” dinner — are included. A Ragged Lake Guide Service guide is part of the prize and winners are warned their cell phones won’t work at the remote camp.

Winners who don’t want to hunt can photograph bears and other wildlife in the remote area between Mt. Katahdin and the Canadian border, said Varney, or take $1,000 cash.

Tickets will be sold until April 30 and the winner drawn May 1. Rod and gun clubs are getting out the word and Noble music boosters will be selling tickets at the Kittery Trading Post on Feb. 2.

To purchase tickets for the Black bear hunt raffle, or more information send inquires to Varney at noblesro@sad60.k12.me.us.