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Clarification of the Draft Deer Management Plan from the DEC

burmjohn

By burmjohn

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The DEC has released some points that needed clarification on the Deer Management Plan Draft.

In reviewing comments already submitted for our draft deer management plan, it is apparent that a couple strategies of the plan need greater clarification. We have posted the following notes at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html to explain that the plan: (1) does not propose a 1-buck per hunter rule, and (2) does not propose an early muzzleloader season across the board for the Southern Zone.

1) 1-Buck Rule? - It's not in the plan.

Strategy 1.3.2 proposes to initiate a process to discontinue either-sex and antlerless-only bow and muzzleloader tags for antlerless harvest and transition to a system based exclusively on Deer Management Permits (DMPs) in all areas of the state. Some hunters have apparently misinterpreted this strategy as though DEC intends to institute a 1-buck per hunter rule. However, this is not the case. The proposal is strictly based on the need for a more sensitive antlerless harvest system, and Appendix 5.6 in the deer plan describes this need and purpose. At this point, the draft plan presents a concept for improved antlerless management. The potential tag system is not fully described, but bow and muzzleloader hunters would still be able to harvest one antlered deer during the regular season and one during either of the special seasons.

2) Early Muzzleloader Season in the Southern Zone? - It's proposed for very limited circumstances in specific areas only.

Strategy 2.2.6 proposes a possible early muzzleloader season under very limited circumstances. Some hunters have apparently misinterpreted this strategy as though an early muzzleloader season is being proposed for most or all of the Southern Zone. However, this is not the case. The strategy describes an approach to progressively increase harvest pressure on antlerless deer in areas where deer populations are above desired levels. This would be considered where DMPs are available to all hunters and additional steps are necessary to reduce the local deer population. A short, early muzzleloader season for antlerless deer is proposed as the third step of a three-step process. Based on current deer population trends, it is likely that step 1 (use of Bonus DMPs; see www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/10001.html for an explanation of Bonus DMPs) might be appropriate for 8-12 Wildlife Management Units, mostly located in northern Regions 8 and 9. If use of Bonus Permits is sufficient, then we would not need to progress on to step 2 (make part of the bow and late muzzleloading season antlerless-only) or step 3 (a short early-muzzleloader season for antlerless deer).

The draft deer plan is available at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html. I encourage you all to carefully read the plan, form your own opinions and give us feedback.

Please remember that July 28 is the deadline for submitting comments on the draft deer management plan. Comments may be submitted in writing to DEC Deer Management Plan, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754 or by email to [email protected] using “Deer plan” in the subject line. Please do reply to NY Big Game to submit your comments.

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SteveB

Again - you can currently hunt within 500 ft now - just need to permission to do so.

Same permission you would need to recover if the law where changed to 150 ft (or whatever) and

the deer you shot crosses the line. And that will happen - especially in the type of neighborhoods being talked

about as becoming open to bowhunting should the law be changed.

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orion

Dave I also thought that was a good idea. The problem i see is that they know the # of DMPs they are giving out and start doing so early in the year. They would have to sell archery licenses and then recalculate right before handing out dmps The only way that works is if you have a time limit to get your license, lets say August, then you would have to go back in October or so to apply for DMP. Then will bowhunters have the first chance at DMPs? State isn't going to do that

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Dave

Dave I also thought that was a good idea. The problem i see is that they know the # of DMPs they are giving out and start doing so early in the year. They would have to sell archery licenses and then recalculate right before handing out dmps The only way that works is if you have a time limit to get your license, lets say August, then you would have to go back in October or so to apply for DMP. Then will bowhunters have the first chance at DMPs? State isn't going to do that

Orion, just wishful thinking on my part.

Dave

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Dave

I would like to think that with this proposal that you would apply for and receive your dmp in time for the bow season.

You would think that the DEC should be able to handle it. If license sales begin Aug 15th they should be able to have enough time for hunters to apply for DMP's and mail them out by the middle of September.

Dave

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wdswtr

I would think so but why mail them out?  They print them now right when you apply for your license.  A lifetime license holder should be able to stop at a sprts store and receive them right there as well.  If the DEC wants to save some money skip the postage fees. 

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nyantler

I would think so but why mail them out?  They print them now right when you apply for your license.  A lifetime license holder should be able to stop at a sprts store and receive them right there as well.  If the DEC wants to save some money skip the postage fees.

Took the words right out of my mouth :)

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nyantler

I understand why the dec is going to one tag for bow, but it is always more for less with them. If they take the tag away then the should drop the price of a bow tag.

The tag only allowed you to take one deer anyway.. that hasn't changed.

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jpastor1759

What I meant was that the current price for the bow License include Two tags 1) either sex tag and 2) Antlerless tag. If the remove the second they should reduce the cost of the license.

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WNYBuckHunter

What I meant was that the current price for the bow License include Two tags 1) either sex tag and 2) Antlerless tag. If the remove the second they should reduce the cost of the license.

Bow license only includes 1 tag, you have to get a muzzleloader license to get the second.

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G-Man

In my experiance, bow hunters will take a buck over a doe, face it state wide for the number of bow hunters the take is small. The x-bow will bring more gun hunters into bow hunting where the dec hopes to have more doe taken. They are mandated to control theh herd not make hunters happy! As for extending the bow season "to bring more weapons into the season" so be it as long as there is still a bow season, i personally would like to see a split season, open bow oct 1, run for 2 weeks close it for a week do x-bow or muzzle/kids hunt re open bow for 2 weeks close it for a week then 2-3 weeks of gun followed by another weeks closure then 2 weeks late bow /muzzle. ... I still wonder how they get their numbers for allocating doe tags.... and see no changes proposed to get a better way to find out.

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