Hunting and Trapping Newsletter

DEC Seeks Assistance to Locate Black Bear Dens

This winter, DEC wildlife biologists are seeking the public's help to learn about new black bear dens throughout New York. As part of DEC's ongoing black bear monitoring, wildlife biologists periodically check on black bears during the winter den season. The bears may be fitted with radio collars to help biologists track the bears' activities throughout the year and to locate their dens in subsequent years for monitoring cub production, condition, and survival.

Bears may den in a rock crevice, tree cavity, or under heavy bush or fallen trees. Female bears generally give birth in January or early February, and if you are near a den you may hear the cubs' high-pitched squeals. New York hikers and hunters cover countless miles of wooded terrain each year. DEC urges anyone who finds a bear den not to approach or disturb the den, but simply to note the location and move away from the den site.

DEC requests that anyone locating a bear den contact their local DEC wildlife office about the den location, including GPS coordinates if possible. More information about black bears in New York is available at DEC's Black Bear web page.

DEC to Talk about Plans for Managing Wildlife on Four Mohawk Valley Wildlife Management Areas

DEC will host an open house to share details about recently completed management plans at four Wildlife Management Areas: Rome WMA, Utica Marsh WMA, Oriskany Flats WMA, and Plantation Island WMA.

Tuesday, January 16, 6:00-8:00 PM, Utica State Office Building, Conference Room A, 207 Genesee Street, Utica, New York 13501.

Free parking is available on streets surrounding the building. Please bring a photo ID. DEC staff will be available for questions from 6:00-6:30 PM, followed by a formal presentation at 6:30 PM. Stop by and learn how DEC plans to manage wildlife habitat at these properties.

Visit our related press release or check out what activities you can do at each WMA by clicking on the links above.

National Archery in the Schools Program - New York is on Target!

School districts around New York State have a great opportunity to offer an in-school archery program for their students. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is a cooperative effort between DEC and New York schools to develop and foster youth participation in the lifelong sport of archery. Since its inception in New York State in 2008, NASP has reached over 300 schools and 300,000 students.

New York NASP provides quality archery instruction within physical education curricula for grades 4-12. The program trains teachers to deliver a minimum of two weeks of instruction in international-style target archery to NASP students. The core content covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration, and self-improvement.

The culminating event in New York is a live state tournament held every March. Competitors have the possibility of moving on to compete at the national level. The 2018 live state tournament for participating schools is set for March 9, 2018, at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, New York.

Please visit our NASP web page. If you would like more information about the program or to look into implementing NASP in your school please email DEC NYNASP Coordinator Jillian Trunko, or call 518-402-8967.