DEC Proposes Earlier Black Bear Hunting In Catskills

[Tim845]

DEC proposes earlier black bear hunting in Catskills

ALBANY — Conservation officials want to expand the hunting season for black bears in the Catskills and surrounding areas because of the animal’s growing population and more incidents at people’s homes.

The public will have 45 days to comment on the Department of Environmental Conservation plan to advance the bear season by two days to Nov. 17, matching the start of the regular deer season.

DEC spokesman Yancey Roy says biologists estimate there are 6,000 or 7,000 black bears in New York compared with 4,000 or 5,000 in 1995. The number of times bears entered homes in the Catskills region searching for food ranged from 21 to 45 in each of the past three years, up from a handful before that.

Hunting seasons in other regions would stay the same.
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Pedal, b*tches!!

[burtondogs]

Seems like a pretty dumb reason to kill more Bear.

Maybe they just want the people who will be buying Condos up at Belleayre to feel more comfortable.



I have not seen any 909 Bear this year. Any sightings?

Later
Jim

[g60dude]

[Kevin]

IT'S ONLY TWO DAYS EARLIER! GET OVER IT! The dent on the bear harvest will probably not even be noticeable.

For the record, the official bear harvest for the 2006/2007 season was 365.

2005 = 493
2004 = 257
2003 = 399
2002 = 278
2001 = 208
2000 = 287
1999 = 112
1998 = 272

And I could go on and on...



NYS DEC reports in 2005: "In the past few years, we have seen healthy black bear populations in all areas of the state, making New York one of the premier locations for black bear hunting in the Northeast," Commissioner Sheehan said. "New York has excellent bear habitat and vast, accessible public lands that offer exciting opportunities for hunting and viewing wild bears in their natural settings. Bear populations have been increasing in number and expanding in range throughout much of southern New York State, a fact evidenced in this year's bear harvest."


So, I ask, why all of the disgust with hunting here on the forum? Please get rid of the Disney "Bambi" mentality and think of hunting in the bigger picture.

Hunting is a perfectly ok form of land management. We have government laws in place to protect species from being over hunted, and as bear population numbers show, NYS is in no danger of over hunting black bears at this time.

As populations of humans and bears both increase, of course interaction will happen...simple as that.

[burtondogs]

[Tim845]

Young Kevin, Ive got a problem with blasting crows and leaving them, kapisch

Its been an unusually quiet bear year @ the 909.
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Pedal, b*tches!!

[bikejunkie]

[BillB3]

Bears aren't the problem, it's those damn Roadies!

[trekkie]

[cfury]

I saw a bear yesterday afternoon at Jockey Hill. Of all places it was crossing the road near the "Bear" trail entrance. I estimate around 150lbs. or so.

[pinklewurst (tschneller)]

Dug Hill Bear report for Aug/ Sept.
Mon AM Aug 13th
Riding with dogs (cause you were working ha ha ) and a 250lb bear was on a trail near Canary Hill. He ran away, the dogs chased him for a minute and came back.

Fri. AM Aug 17th
Saw bear while driving on bottom of Dug Hill near last turn before Hurley Mt.

Sun - Thus Aug.19th - 23rd
Bear tried to get into trash in wood shed every night. Dogs were barking in early morning. (Hunting season almost started eary!!) Went to dump on Fri. No more bear. (Racoon was found in an empty garbage can recently too)

Mon Sept. 3rd
Evidence of bear activity on trail near house, large rock flipped over into trail, scratches on tree.

Wed. Sept. 5th
More bear evidence... A hollow rotted tree near trail on bottom of Dug Hill ripped to shreds! A squirrels winter stash spread all over the ground, nuts all over. Thought I saw the bear but I was haulin' out of there!!

Thus. Sept 6th
My wife and son almost hit a baby bear near bus turn on Dug Hill. The little one came bolting out of no where!

There are bear out there and they love garbage and and bird feeders. If you live in the woods and you are stupid enough to leave your screen door open at night or place a bird feeder on the porch, then a bear is likely to visit. They are omnivores and scavengers. If people are allowed to build in the forest then they should expect all sorts of natural invaders like racoons that eat trash, fishers and owls that kill cats, deer that wipe out half the garden, chipmunks that dig holes all over and steal tomatoes.
I don't hunt them because I look at hunting like a bike shop owner looks at building bikes up, its work! I would do it if I needed food. I don't mind hunters, they want open space and they provide some population control. They certainly are better than having large mountain lions to do the job. Two days of extra season?? If it rains, most modern hunters will stay home or at the diner.
Tom
PS Have some fun and put a salmon on string and hang it from a tree in the back yard. Grab a spotlight and watch that bear do tricks!
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Definition of Stinky: My gloves!

[Tim845]

I noticed a lot of the obvious bear signs like moved rocks...pretty sure it was the groove trail where a new small clearing had been opened in a few spots where they'd knocked down dead trees.
Some of the rocks were moved moto style though, even on parts of the edge trail. That now fancy pile of debris looks just like a trailhead!
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Pedal, b*tches!!

[burtondogs]

The only signs I notice at 909 are the anthill's that look like something has been digging in them.

If you want to learn more about black bear from the comfort of your lay-z-boy check out this DVD from the DEC. good stuff.

http://tinyurl.com/35zosx