DEC Tagged bear in Allegany county.

[ny_deer_hunter]

Ok folks.  This weekend I was bowhunting and had a male bear that had blue/green ear tags on it. Two questions:

1.  Should I contact the DEC on the sighting knowing that it is a tagged bear?

2.  Does anyone know if there is a color code for these, if it is a trouble making bear I may not let it go by next time.  I have some video of it on my fathers computer and will post it as soon as I get a copy of the file. 

[HounderEmily]

No color coding involved.  The DEC always appreciates sighting reports, but they are not required. Call the bear biologist for your region.  I know my region (4) uses random colors to make it easier to guess which bear if only the color, not the number, is visible.

[Paulie]

can you shoot a tagged bear?

[HounderEmily]

as long as its a legal size, yes.

[SilentStalker]

Is there a legal size for bear harvest???

[HounderEmily]

In the Southern Zone, hunters may not shoot a cub, shoot any bear from a group of 

bears, or shoot or take a bear from its den. 

see more info here:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/bbhunting10.PDF

[JR60]

This past weekend I had a bear with a tag in its ear on a logging road on my property Town of Richburg , wasnt to scared of us as we walked within 50 yards of it ..

[NYDeer]

When DEC relocates problem bears, I believe they get tagged..

Easily explains why it wasn't too effected by your presence..

[HounderEmily]

DEC no longer relocates problem bears.  Problem bears are hounded. After 3 chances a kill permit is usually issued.  If the problem is severe in the first place (e.g. inside a building) DEC will kill it themselves. 

They used to relocate some problem bears to my mountain (Halcott, in the Catskills). I am very glad they no longer do that.