County Leads With Black Bears In North

Out of the 13 counties that make up the Adirondacks, St. Lawrence County saw the highest number of black bears harvested by big-game hunters in 2009 with 122, according to statistics released by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Lewis County followed with 119 and 93 in Hamilton County. Big-game hunters in the towns of Pierrepont, Hopkinton, Colton and Parishville harvested the majority of the 122 bears last fall.

Statewide, hunters took 1,487 black bears in 2009, a 15-percent increase from the 1,295 taken in 2008.

That was mainly due to a strong surge in bear harvest in the Adirondack region that saw a 40 percent increase over 2008, up to 814 from 582.

"With bear population numbers growing in New York, it's no surprise that bear harvest numbers grew last hunting season," said DEC Commissioner Peter Grannis in a statement. "DEC is committed to working with our many partners to help manage the bear population in a way that is beneficial for recreation, while also protective of communities."

Blanche Town, a state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) fish and wildlife technician III, based in Potsdam, said that the county saw a number of bear complaints in 2009.

"In St. Lawrence County, there were few bear complaints in the early and mid-summer, but late summer and early fall of 2009, they increased, possibly related to a lack of natural forage," said Ms. Town.

She added that there seemed to be interest from big-game hunters in bear, especially during the early season.

"Early bear season opens in mid September and there was a great deal of interest from big game hunters, in taking part. Local taxidermists reported more bears coming into their shops as well," she said.

The following is a breakdown by town, how many bears were harvested and in what season:

* Canton - 1 during muzzleloader and 2 during regular season;

* Clare - 3 during the regular season;

* Clifton - 5 during the early season, 1 during bow season and 4 during the regular season;

* Colton - 7 during the early season; 2 during the bow season, 2 during muzzleloader, and 2 during the regular season;

* DeKalb - 1 during the muzzleloader season;

* Edwards - 2 during early season, 1 during bow, 1 in muzzleloader, and 2 during regular season;

* Fine - 4 during early muzzleloader, 3 during bow season, 2 during muzzleloader, and 2 during regular season;

* Fowler - 2 during early muzzleloader, 2 during muzzleloader, and 2 during regular season;

* Hermon - 3 during early muzzleloader, 4 during muzzleloader, and 1 during regular season;

* Hopkinton - 9 during early muzzleloader and 4 during regular season;

* Parishville - 8 during early muzzleloader, 1 during bow season and 2 during muzzleloader;

* Piercefield - 1 during regular season;

* Pierrepont - 11 during early season, 5 during bow and 3 during regular season;

* Pitcairn - 5 during early season and 4 during regular season; and

* Russell - 5 during the early season and 2 during regular season.