Black Bear Management Cooperator Program

Become a New York State Black Bear Management Cooperator

Each hunting season, DEC works with successful bear hunters, cooperating taxidermists, and meat processors to collect age, sex, and weight information from harvested black bears. Recording this information over time allows DEC to more accurately monitor the size and health of New York’s bear population, which helps inform future bear management decisions. To determine a bear’s age, DEC examines growth patterns in the root of an extracted premolar tooth.

Successful hunters who report their bear harvest and submit a premolar tooth from their bear, by December 31 become a NYS Bear Management Cooperator, and will receive a commemorative patch and the age information from their bear. DEC typically receives the age results from harvested bears in late summer, with results and commemorative patches sent out to hunters in the fall.

How to Submit a Premolar Tooth

After reporting your bear harvest, DEC will mail you a letter that includes instructions on how to remove and submit the premolar teeth from your bear as well as a short questionnaire. If you do not receive this letter within two weeks of reporting your bear, please call 518-408-1779 or email [email protected].

If you intend to have your bear mounted or processed, you may also bring your bear to one of DEC’s cooperating bear taxidermists or meat processors who will remove and submit the premolar teeth for you.

Historic Bear Age Information

View the Estimated Ages of Bears Harvested in 2023 (PDF).