Nearly 1,700 bears taken by hunters across New York during 2024 seasons

Nearly 1,700 bears were taken by hunters across New York during the 2024 seasons, according to the DEC.

For context, the bear harvest in 2024 was almost 25% higher than the previous season and approximately 13 percent higher than the five- and 10-year averages.

As usual, the DEC says a higher number of bears (1,028) were harvested and tagged in the southern part of the state, but the Northern Zone boasted 657 reported bear kills.

The highest concentrations for reported kills were in the Western Adirondacks and the Catskills. “Widespread drought conditions likely contributed to the elevated bear harvest during the 2024 seasons,” the DEC clarified.

“During periods of drought, natural food sources for bears can become scarce and bears may travel farther in search of food or congregate around available food sources. This can increase the likelihood that hunters will encounter bears.”

Notable Numbers compiled by the DEC:

• 14.4: the number of bears harvested per 100 square miles in WMU 6C, which had the highest bear harvest density of any WMU.
• 564 pounds: the heaviest dressed-weight bear reported to DEC in 2024. The male bear was harvested in the town of Wilton, Saratoga County, WMU 5J.
• 46: the number of cooperating taxidermists and meat processors that assisted with the collection of biological data from harvested bears in 2024.
• 677: the number of harvested bears from which DEC received pre-molar teeth to determine the bear’s age in 2024.
• 21: the age of the oldest bear harvested in 2023 (the most recent year for which age data are available). The bear was harvested in the town Webb, Herkimer County, WMU 5H.

NYS DEC Black Bear image.