Bear Hunting
NY to Open New WMUs for Bear Hunting
A few days ago the NYS DEC proposed changes to open new areas in the Southern Zone for black bear hunting beginning in fall 2008. An additional 13 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) will be added, including parts of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Wyoming, Genesee, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates, Steuben, Schuyler, Tompkins, Tioga, Cortland, Broome, Chenango, Madison, Onondaga, Oneida, and Otsego counties.
The proposal to open new areas to bear hunting is a proactive strategy by the NYS DEC to slow the expansion of the black bear’s range and population in an effort to reduce conflicts between black bears and people before those conflicts reach unacceptable levels.
Over the past few years, black bears have expanded their range considerably, which has led to a growing number of interactions between bears and people, including some serious conflicts where bears have entered homes or cabins.
Last fall/winter, the DEC held a series of public meetings throughout upstate New York to seek public input on future bear management efforts. Attendees at these meetings expressed interest in maintaining a healthy bear population and, where bears have a noticeable presence, supported management actions like expanded hunting opportunities to help control bear numbers and problems.
Bear hunting is the only viable and cost-effective tool for managing bear numbers on a regional basis. Providing bear hunting opportunities in the proposed units is intended as a continuation of efforts to manage population growth and range expansion. This is an important first step in an effort to slow or stop growth into areas where the probability of conflict between bears and human interests is highest. Opening new areas to hunting will not eliminate bears or prevent all human/bear interactions. The DEC is committed to continuing educational outreach to increase the public’s awareness of bears and inform the public on techniques to avoid conflicts with bears.
The specific changes proposed for the Southern bear range would:
- Open WMUs 7M, 7R, 7S, 8H, 8J, 8M, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8S, 9G and 9H to black bear hunting for the archery, regular and muzzleloading seasons. This would include parts of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Wyoming, Genesee, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates, Steuben, Schuyler, Tompkins, Tioga, Cortland, Broome, Chenango, Madison, Onondaga, and Oneida counties. Season dates for these units will be the same as those in place for adjacent units already open to bear hunting in the Allegany bear range.
- Open WMU 4N to black bear hunting for the archery, regular and muzzleloading seasons. This includes parts of Chenango and Otsego counties. The season dates for this unit will be the same as adjacent areas to the east (the firearms season for bear is the same as the firearms season for deer) in the Catskill bear range.
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:
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.
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.
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