DEC officers find sticky situation in Warwick

WARWICK — On Sept. 9, the opening day of early bear season, New York State Environmental Conservation Officers Max Nicols and Lucas Palmateer were patrolling Pochuk Mountain State Forest in Warwick.
A number of vehicles were parked at the trail head, and one vehicle in particular caught the officers’ attention when they noticed a box containing jars of honey visible on the passenger seat.
According to a press released issued by the state Department of Conservation,
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 ECOs engaged the hunters in conversation about where they planned on hunting in the morning.
The next day, Nicols and Palmateer returned to Pochuk State Forest and located the hunters in the area described.
The hunters immediately began to pack up and leave.
The officers 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. However, one of the hunters took off running down the mountain.
Nicols caught him at the campsite while Palmateer stayed with the other hunters. All three hunters were issued tickets for Hunting Bear with the Aid of a Pre-Established Bait Pile. The hunter who fled was issued a ticket for Failing to Comply with a Lawful Order of a Conservation Officer.
The DEC did not identify the three hunters.