How Great Was the Recent Bear Season in New York

Each year the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) tracks and then releases information concerning annual hunts throughout the state of New York. This past week they shared the Bear Harvest Totals for 2023

So how did the bear season go for the Hudoson Valley Hunter? Pretty good according to the numbers released by the NYS DEC. The 2023 harvest numbers were slightly above the 2022 numbers and the greatest overall density was in the Catskills.

NYS DEC Releases Bear Hunter Number for 2023

The NYS DEC tracks some very interesting information when it comes to bear hunting, For instance, they know the the largest bear taken dressed out at 550 pounds and came from Windsor, in Broome County, New York.

They also tracked the number of bears harvested whose teeth were collected by the NYS DEC. That number was around 648. They also track the age of the bears taken and how many are harvested per square mile.

SEE ALSO: Bear Discovers an Electric Fence

There are many other statistics that you can check out by checking into the NYS DEC Official Release. They comprised a complete summary of the 2023 season. So when does the bear season start? Typically it is the first week of September. In 2023 it began on September 9th and went through the end of the year.

Throughout the season the method of hunting changes. There is a bow season and then there are also different types of guns that can be used which breaks the 4 month season up for some hunters. If you are skilled with more than one weapon you could find yourself hunting bear for the entire season.

Do People Eat Bear Meat

The answer to Can you eat a bear is yes. Outdoor Life says that some bear meat can be unpleasant depending on the bear's diet. They also go on to say that Spring and Fall bear meat taste different mostly due to the fat content. And lastly, the best way is to grill it.

Bear Hunters Can Be Bear Managers Too

If you do decide you want to be a bear hunter keep this in mind you can also become a Black Bear Management Cooperator by following these three easy steps.

1. Report your bear harvest.
2. Submit a premolar tooth from the bear for DEC to determine the bear's age.
3. You will receive a commemorative patch as an NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator.

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