Bear Season – Southern Zone – Green Zones - Crossbow

Black Bear Hunting Seasons

Early Season bear hunters may use a bow (with appropriate bowhunting eligibility), crossbow, muzzleloader, handgun, shotgun, or rifle (where allowed). For legal implements in other bear seasons, please see Rifle, Shotgun, and Bow Areas.

2019 Black Bear Management Cooperator Patch

Become a NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator

1. Report your bear harvest.
2. Submit a premolar tooth from the bear for DEC to determine the bear's age.
3. You will receive a commemorative patch as a NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator.

See Black Bear Tooth Collection for instructions and more information about becoming a NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator.

Hunting Zone Boundaries and Wildlife Management Units (WMUs)

If you need to know the boundaries of the different hunting areas, go to Legally Defined Areas for Big Game Hunting for a description of the hunting zones or Wildlife Management Units for a description of unit boundaries.