new area for bear hunting

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For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Maureen Wren
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 (518) 402-8000

DEC PROPOSES TO OPEN NEW AREAS FOR BEAR HUNTING
IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEW YORK COUNTIES
Meetings Taking Place in July, Comment Period Ends August 9

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced proposed changes that will
open new areas in the Southern Zone to black bear hunting beginning in
fall 2008. DEC is proposing to expand the bear hunting seasons to 13
additional Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), which include 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 in the
Southern bear range is part of our continuing effort to better manage
bear populations and provide excellent hunting opportunities in New York
State,” Commissioner Grannis said. “Expanding the bear hunting area
is a proactive strategy to slow the expansion of black bear range and
population and reduce conflicts between black bears and people before
those conflicts reach unacceptable levels.”

Black bears have been thriving in New York, with a current
population of approximately 6,000-7,000 - a number that has grown
significantly in recent years. The majority (4,000-5,000) can be found
in the Adirondack region, with the remainder of the population mostly in
the Allegany (300-500) and Catskill (1,500-2,000) regions. In recent
years, 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.

In the fall and winter of 2007-2008, DEC held a series of public
meetings throughout upstate New York to provide an overview of the
natural history and current status of black bears, including the recent
range expansions, and 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.

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 map of DEC’s Wildlife Management Unit locations can be found
at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8302.html . To see more detailed
descriptions of the proposal, including instructions for providing
comments, it is posted on the DEC website. Go to the DEC’s home page -
www.dec.ny.gov - and select “Proposed Regulations” from the left
column. The proposed rulemaking can also be viewed in detail in the June
25, 2008 publication of the New York State Register, which will be
posted at http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2008.htm .

DEC will be accepting public comments on the proposals until
August 9, 2008. To send written comments on the proposals, go to
www.dec.ny.gov and select “Proposed Regulations” from the left
column, or mail to: Gordon Batcheller, NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife, 625
Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754.

DEC will also be hosting several public meetings to discuss the
proposed regulation changes. The following meetings are scheduled:


Location Date Time
Region 7 Broome County Cooperative Extension Office
840 Upper Front Street,
Binghamton, NY 13905 Tuesday
July 15, 2008 7 - 9 PM
Region 8 Dansville High School Auditorium
284 Main St.
Dansville, NY 14437 Tuesday
July 15, 2008 7 - 9 PM
Ontario County Safety Training Facility
2914 County Road 48
Canandaigua, NY 14424 Thursday
July 17, 2008 7 - 9 PM
Region 9


Warsaw Central Middle/High School Auditorium
81 West Court St.
Warsaw, NY 14569 Wednesday
July 16, 2008 7 - 9 PM
Evans Town Hall
Courtroom
8787 Erie Road
Angola, NY 14006 Thursday
July 17, 2008 7 - 9 PM

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, and as such, DEC remains 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 recently-produced “Living with New York Black Bears” DVD is
available to the public for loan at local libraries and DEC wildlife
offices, in addition to information being made available on DEC’s
website at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6960.html and recent public meetings.
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Brenda
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Great. :cry: I'm in 8S.
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User avatar
backpacker
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Location: Oriskany Falls

close but no cookie :roll:
The Mountains are Calling and I must Go John Muir
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Brenda
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No, I'm bummed because 8S is among the areas being considered.
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