RE: Bear Hunting in the southernTier?
Cattaraugus, Allegheny, Stueben are all good counties to check out - make sure your in the region where there is an open season - see map above from Charlie P.
[link]http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/wildgame/beartake.htm[/link]
You can't hunt Allegheny St. park - there is other state land , not all of it is listed on the DEC Websites so I'd make some calls to some biologists and DEC officers in the area. Maybe the NY Forest Rangers - some good chunks of state forest land down there open too hunting.
Eric