Author Name: John Burmeister
Leftover DMPs
In some Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), we issued Deer Management Permits (DMPs) to all applicants during the initial application period, but the DMP target was still not reached. In these units, we will re-open the application process for leftover DMPs beginning tomorrow, November 1, 2011. Leftover DMPs are available for the following Wildlife Management Units (WMUs): 1C, 3M, 3R, 3S, 7H, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 9A, and 9F.
Hunters may apply for up to 2 additional DMPs in these WMUs.
Applications are accepted at license issuing outlets only. You cannot apply by phone, mail or on-line.
DMPs are issued on a first-come / first-serve basis until the desired target is reached in each unit.
See www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/6399.html for additional details.
Bonus DMPs
Also, DEC continues to offer Bonus DMPs to successful hunters in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J, and 8C. New this year, DEC will also be offering Bonus DMPs in WMU 9A.
Bonus DMPs are available to hunters who take an antlerless deer on a Deer Management Permit (DMP) or a Bonus DMP in one of these units.
To participate, hunters must visit a check station to confirm kill of an antlerless deer and properly filled out DMP.
See www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/10001.html for check station information and more details about the Bonus Permit program.
There is already a thread discussing this here: http://huntingny.com...vailable-nov-1/
Author Name: John Burmeister
NY DEC:
We have now posted our Assessment of Public Comment on the draft NYS Deer Management Plan, 2012-2016 at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html.
We reviewed all of the input received on our draft deer management plan, and we appreciate the time and effort that so many took to express their personal and organizational views in writing. We prepared this Assessment of Public Comment as a brief overview of what seemed to be the principal issues identified with the draft plan, and we offer our response to those issues.
Attached is the Assessment of the public comments in PDF form.
View attachment: deerplanapc.pdf
Author Name: John Burmeister
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that it has adopted a five-year deer management plan. The final plan, which has been revised based on public comment on a previously released draft version, is now available at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html.
“White-tailed deer are an important and valued natural resource for New Yorkers,” Commissioner Joe Martens said. “DEC’s new deer management plan provides strategic direction for our staff over the next five years and will help us focus our efforts where they can best meet the biological and social demands associated with deer. This plan emphasizes the importance of hunting for deer management, and we are particularly excited to create new opportunities for young deer hunters,” Martens said. “We are also cognizant of the significant ecological impacts associated with deer, and we are eager to more fully bring our knowledge of these impacts into the population management process.”
The plan describes six primary goals that encompass the current priorities for deer management and the values and issues expressed by the public:
• Manage deer populations at levels that are appropriate for human and ecological concerns;
• Promote and enhance deer hunting as an important recreational activity, tradition, and population management tool in New York;
• Reduce negative impacts caused by deer;
• Foster public understanding and communication about deer ecology, deer management, economic aspects and recreational opportunities;
• Manage deer to promote healthy and sustainable forests and enhance habitat conservation efforts to benefit deer and other species; and
• Ensure that the necessary resources are available to support sound management of white-tailed deer in New York.
Public comment on the draft deer management plan was carefully reviewed by the Department, and several notable changes were made in the adopted plan, including:
• Changing to a 5-year cycle for evaluating deer population objectives;
• DEC removed the proposal to completely discontinue either-sex and antlerless-only tags;
• DEC is committing to implementing a youth deer hunting opportunity. Details related to timing and structure of a youth hunt have been removed from the plan so as to allow continued discussion to identify the most appropriate option; and
• DEC clarified that a special antlerless-only season for muzzleloader hunters will only occur as the 3rd phase of a multi-phase process, and only in WMUs where additional doe harvest is needed.
DEC intends to begin implementing strategies of the deer plan immediately. While many strategies will take several years to develop, DEC expects to begin rulemaking to implement a number of hunting-related aspects of this plan prior to the 2012-13 hunting seasons, including:
• Establishing a youth deer hunt;
• Starting the Southern Zone bow season October 1st;
• Allowing DMPs to be used during the bow and early muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone; and
• Expanding mandatory antler restrictions into 7 WMUs in southeastern New York.
DEC strives to provide a deer management program that balances diverse public interests and values with the biological needs and ecological relationships of deer, for the benefit of New York’s white-tailed deer herd and the people of New York.
The PDF of the complete management plan has been attached to this post.
View attachment: deerplan2012.pdf
Author Name: John Burmeister
The 2011-2012 Southern Zone bowhunting season and Northern Zone muzzleloader season for deer and bear begin at sunrise on Saturday, October 15. The Southern Zone includes most of upstate New York outside of the Northern Zone, except for Westchester County. The Northern Zone, generally includes the Adirondacks, the Tug Hill Plateau, the eastern Lake Ontario plain, and the Champlain and St. Lawrence valleys.
“The early seasons are a great time to be in the woods,” said Commissioner Joe Martens. “With recent legislation now allowing 12-13 year olds to purchase a Junior Bowhunting license, we encourage adult hunters to share their passion, experience, and time with a junior hunter this year.”
Hunters are reminded of several other changes for the upcoming hunting seasons:
Mandatory antler restrictions are in effect during bow and gun hunting seasons this year in a portion of Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 3A in the Catskills (part of Delaware, Sullivan and Ulster counties). The new law, established by the New York State Legislature, covers the portion of WMU 3A that lies south and west of State Route 28 and requires that bucks taken in this part of WMU 3A have at least one antler with 3 or more points that are at least 1 inch long. The law applies to all public and private lands and all hunting seasons in the affected portion of WMU 3A. Only hunters under the age of 17 are exempt and they may take any antlered deer with at least one antler measuring three or more inches in length. See www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27663.html for more information about antler restrictions in New York.
Bear hunting has been expanded in eastern New York, from Westchester to Washington County, and is open during the same time periods as deer hunting. For specific bear hunting areas and season dates, visit www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html#Black.
Crossbows may NOT be used during the bowhunting or early muzzleloading seasons, but crossbows may be used during the regular firearms and late muzzleloader seasons. See Crossbow Hunting at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/68802.html for more information and the Certificate of Qualification.
DEC encourages bowhunters to participate in the Bowhunter Sighting Log www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7193.html. The Bowhunter Sighting Log involves keeping a diary of your bowhunting activity and the number of animals seen. These data help DEC track deer and other wildlife populations.
