I have to double check NYS Laws but I think it is illegal to shoot a Sow with cubs
I can only speak for myself I would have passed on the bears but to each his own
Last year I has a huge black bear spook a 7 pointer on me in my shooting lane I had the flinter ready to go and here come this bears up the ridge in the berry patch myself have no need to take a bear unless in a threat to me .I can say we had a large number of bears this year on the mountain up near Hancock n.y. they due create a
problem only reason is the people with the feeders draw them in and when the feeders are empty now they start getting into there homes looking for food can't blame the bears it the people who draw them in.
I would not hesitate to shoot any bear or animal if it becomes a threat to me or someone else in season or out of season.
I am not a trophy hunter but I feel if you take a animal deer ,bear ,fish, make good use of it or just let it walk
I think life is a gift no matter if you are a animal or a person and enjoy it while here on this earth