Here in WV it is illegal to bait, but thats o.k. to me huntin over bait is more like fishin than huntin, but to each his own.
Anyway, I have never been to NY but, if your in the mountains, you can Use this to your advantage.
I usually just walk on trails and keep my ears open, most bears, aren't really all that worried about keeping quite.
Plus, If you are above him, you can keep from smelling you. Sometimes he will walk right up to you, if you are quite enough and he don't know you are there.
I killeda 450# era few yearsago like this.
Good Luck