The scales stopped at 647 pounds. Closer inspection revealed an ancient old bear with a scarred face, torn ears, rotted teeth and a healed break in his left hind leg.

The big boar's hide hung loosely on his frame. As one check station official exclaimed, "If this old boy filled out his hide in his prime, he could have easily weighed 750 pounds or more."

ONE FOR THE BOOKS
The New York State Big Buck Club, the official big-game records keeper for New York State, scores both deer and bear, using the Boone and Crockett scoring system. This scoring procedure uses the combined length and width measurements of the bear's dried skull.

Currently, there are over 300 bears listed in the New York record book in all categories. Eight of the top 10 archery bruins were taken in Catskills counties.

WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?
DEC research has shown that black bears are opportunists when it comes to filling their stomachs. When it comes to searching for food, they know no boundaries.

Once a food source is depleted, the bears immediately move to find more. One radio-collared 299-pound adult male was located later in a ripening cornfield, 81 miles away.

The Allegany and Catskill bear-hunting areas were expanded in response to recommendations from stakeholder input groups.

In the Allegheny region, wildlife management units 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9W, 9P and 9S were opened for hunting. In the Catskills region, WMUs 4O and 4P were opened for hunting.

These additional areas were open during the regular bear season in 2004, and during all archery, gun, and muzzleloader seasons in 2005.

These new hunting areas in the Allegheny range contributed 10 additional bears to the total legal harvest, and an impressive 54 more bears in the Catskill range.

"There is a period of peak activity during the weeks prior to hibernation each year," Maillet noted. "At times during the Catskill season, you can see a bear every day."

For more information on New York's black bear hunting opportunities, log onto www.dec.state.ny.us, or call the Region 3 office at (845) 256-3098. For the Allegheny range, call the Region 8 office at (585) 226-5380.

For information on guided bear hunting, contact the New York State Outdoor Guides Association at 1-866- 469-7642, or try the group's Web site at www.nysoga.org/" target="_blank">www.nysoga.org.