Bear Hunters Charged With Using Illegal Bait

WARWICK, NY — The opening day of early bear season in Orange County found three hunters in a sticky situation with state Environmental Conservation Officers. On Sept. 9, Officers Max Nicols and Lucas Palmateer were patrolling Pochuk Mountain State Forest in Warwick.

Multiple vehicles were parked at the trailhead, officers said, and one vehicle in particular caught their attention when they noticed a box containing jars of honey visible on the passenger seat. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The officers spoke with three hunters who had just returned from bear hunting at a nearby camp site, where they spotted jars of honey, a bag of apples and an empty jar of peanut butter on the ground.

Recognizing these items as possible bear bait, the officers engaged the hunters in conversation about where they planned on hunting in the morning.

The next day, the officers returned to Pochuk State Forest and located the hunters in the area described. The hunters immediately began to pack up and leave.

The ECOs checked the area for bait, and again located two piles of illegal bait: cold cut meats and sausages, pastries, peanut butter and multiple piles of white rice stuck together with honey.

They called the hunters back to their location, but one of the hunters took off running down the mountain.

Officer Nicols caught him at the campsite while Officer Palmateer stayed with the other hunters.

All three hunters were issued tickets for hunting bear with the aid of a pre-established bait pile, and the hunter who fled was issued a ticket for failing to comply with a lawful order of a conservation officer.

Photo caption: Officers Max Nicols and Lucas Palmateer with pile of rice and honey. Photo credit: DEC.