New York State Warns Bear Hunters – You CANNOT Do This

The fall bear season is here in New York State and the weather is about to be perfect for those headed to the woods.

There have been dozens of bear sightings in New York State this summer. From the suburbs of Buffalo, to the big towns in the Capital Region, New York State residents have reported an uptick in the amount of bears on the move in the more populated areas.

What can we do? A few things. Make sure that you are being responsible around your home and not make it an attractive place for a bear to find food. The other way we can help is to hunt responsibly and help control the population in a legal and conservative way.

READ MORE: Massive Changes To The New York State Hunting Laws This Fall

The black bear season in New York State has two portions, the archery and the firearms season. Depending on where you live, the season dates vary. But for the most part, the archery season is well underway this October.

For those who are trying to take a bear with a bow or gun, there are some unique rules that New York State has that pertain specifically to how and where you can take a bear.

A quick glance at the rules on the New York State DEC website and I found that in the SOUTHERN ZONE illegal to shoot a bear that IS IN A GROUP OF BEARS.

"In the Southern Zone, you may not shoot a cub or a bear that should be known to be a cub, shoot any bear from a group of bears, or shoot or take a bear from its den".

Best of luck hunting and for those who are living in an area with bears on the move, the fall is when the black bears are starting to eat and get as many calories before they hibernate for the winter. Don't be surprised if you see more activity this month.