Published: September 19, 2008 04:00 am         

DEC expands bear hunting areas in state

New York state has adopted regulations that will expand black bear hunting areas in parts of 22 counties, including Otsego and Chenango, the Department of Environmental Conservation announced Thursday.

The DEC will open 13 additional Wildlife Management Units throughout Central and Western New York this fall. The regulations are already in effect and allow hunters to pursue bears in these areas during the bowhunting, regular, and muzzleloading bear hunting seasons in the Southern Zone. About 2,000 bears live in this zone, which includes Otsego and Chenango counties.

An updated map of New York's bear hunting seasons is available at the website www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28602.html. A map and boundary descriptions of DEC's WMU locations can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8302.html.

Among the changes for the Southern Bear Range:

Open WMUs 7M, 7R, 7S, 8H, 8J, 8M, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8S, 9G and 9H to black bear hunting for the bowhunting, regular and muzzleloading seasons in parts of several counties, including Chenango. Season dates are the same as those for adjacent units already open to bear hunting in the Allegany area (bowhunting starts Oct. 18; regular bear season starts Nov. 22).

Open WMU 4N to black bear hunting for the bowhunting, regular and muzzleloading seasons in parts of Chenango and Otsego counties. The season dates will be the same as adjacent areas to the east in the Catskill area (bowhunting starts Oct. 18; regular season starts Nov. 15).

Hunters must report the taking of a black bear to the DEC by calling 1-866-426-3778 or by using the website www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8316.html.