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By HuntingNY
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) adopted new regulations to address deer populations in portions of the state with too many or too few deer, DEC Acting Commissioner Marc Gerstman announced today. Additionally, DEC adopted several modifications to its Deer Management Assistance Program designed to ease the application process for landowners while providing greater flexibility for DEC to administer the program.
“Deer are a keystone game species in New York, and responsible management requires periodic adjustment of hunting rules to ensure that deer populations are compatible with local socio-economic interests as well as maintaining a balanced ecosystem,” Acting Commissioner Marc Gerstman said. “DEC considered all public input in developing these regulations, and took into consideration the numerous negative impacts associated with deer overpopulation, including impairments to forest habitat regeneration, increased deer-vehicle collisions and increased incidences of tick-borne diseases.”
To achieve the desired deer population levels, the allowable harvest of antlerless deer is being increased in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 1C, 3M, 3S, 4J, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8N, 9A, and 9F. These units include all or portions of Suffolk, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, Westchester, Albany, Niagara, Erie, Wyoming, Orleans, Genesee, Monroe, Livingston, Steuben, Wayne, Ontario, Yates, Seneca and Cayuga counties. In these WMUs, overabundant deer populations are negatively impacting forest regeneration, creating excessive agricultural damage, causing increased deer-vehicle collisions, and increasing damage to landscape plantings. In several of these areas, tick-borne diseases are of greater concern and high deer populations have been linked to increases in ticks and associated tick-borne diseases. There is an urgent need to address over-population of deer in these areas.
Management objectives are not being met in these units despite having a surplus of antlerless deer tags available for hunters. In making the first 15 days of the early bow season and all of the late bow and muzzleloader seasons valid for antlerless deer only in these units, DEC is asking hunters for greater cooperation in meeting the management needs by focusing their hunting effort on antlerless deer during these periods.
Throughout most of New York State, deer population levels can be managed with hunters using deer management permits. However, in these 10 management areas, the effectiveness of the deer management program has been reduced because the number of permits available in these areas exceeds the hunter demand for these permits and management objectives are not being met.
In contrast, the harvest of antlerless deer is being curtailed in WMU 6A to achieve the desired deer population in that unit. WMU 6A includes portions of Jefferson, St. Lawrence, and Franklin counties. In this unit, DEC has not issued Deer Management Permits for antlerless deer since 2011, and the antlerless harvest has only occurred during the early and late bow and muzzleloader seasons.
With the adoption of these new rules, hunters will not be allowed to take any antlerless deer during the early muzzleloader season in this unit until the deer population rebounds. In recent years, about half of the antlerless harvest in this unit has occurred during the early muzzleloader season.
DEC has revised its hunting season maps at dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html to reflect these changes in antlerless harvest rules.
Deer Management Assistance Program Refined
The Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) enables DEC biologists to help landowners and resource managers implement property-specific deer management on their lands. Adopted modifications will improve the program for applicants and DEC.
DMAP application changes
The application deadline will be changed from September 1 to August 1, beginning in 2016.
DMAP permit durations will be extended from one year to three years, while retaining annual reporting requirements for permittees and hunters.
DMAP use changes
DMAP permits will now be allowed to be used during the September portion of the early bow season in the Northern Zone and hunters will now be allowed to use up to four DMAP tags per permit where needed.
The full list of changes to the DMAP rules, including application forms, can be found at: www.dec.ny.gov/animals/33973.html.
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By burmjohn
Hunters Must Apply in Person at DEC Lands and Forest Office in Sherburne.
Under Governor Cuomo's NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Office in Sherburne, NY, will once again have Deer Management Assistance Permits (DMAP) available for use this hunting season on Beaver Meadow State Forest in Chenango County. Individuals with a valid state hunting license are eligible to take advantage of the DMAP program that has been approved for Beaver Meadow. The forest, consisting of approximately 5,816 acres of land in the towns of Smyrna and Otselic in Chenango County, has been part of the DMAP program for the past four years. DMAP tags are valid only for antlerless deer. Last year, 57 antlerless deer were taken under the DMAP program in the county.
DEC foresters have determined that browsing by deer is negatively impacting the state forest beyond what traditional hunting and forest management can address. Tree regeneration, wildflowers and other herbaceous plants have been repeatedly damaged and degraded by persistent overbrowsing by deer.
"By focusing additional hunting in a targeted area for an extended amount of time, the forest will have an opportunity for tree regeneration to grow above the browse height of deer," noted DEC Regional Director Ken Lynch. "This is a great opportunity for hunters to take an additional deer while also helping with forest management."
Hunters may apply in person from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the DEC Lands and Forest Office, 2715 State Highway 80 in Sherburne. DMAP tags are available for use on the forest during both the regular and bow hunting seasons. Tags will be loaned out for two-week periods, determined by an on-going lottery, depending on hunter demand. The DMAP application for Beaver Meadow State Forest is available online. More information about Beaver Meadow State Forest, including a map of the forest, is also available.
Application Link: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/66900.html
DMAP tags will be used on Beaver Meadow State Forest for a period of time, typically about four to seven years, based on the success of the program. The end result will be healthier forests and better habitat for deer and other flora and fauna that have been missing or greatly reduced in the forest due to over browsing by deer.
In support of the NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, this year's budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have not reached their full potential. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas. In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state's fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.
For further information, contact the Sherburne Lands and Forests office at 607-674-4017.
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By NFA-ADK
Passing a 4 pt buck and a doe yesterday I was chastised for not shooting my first deer with my bow by one of my archery partners. Passing on doe, spikes and bucks up to 4 points has been the way I have hunted since 1988. Most area's I hunt have a low population with a few exceptions, LI being one of them. I understand population control and the need for people to get meat, this is not about that.
I know I am a minority because I don't shoot or target doe for the most part. With so many hunters in these area's I just feel that I don't need to remove several doe a year off of the public land I hunt. I know doe can be just as smart and as hard to hunt as the most seasoned buck but I still can not pull the trigger when one is perfect broad side for me. Last year I gave myself a free pass to shoot anything the last day of bow but when I stalked upon a feeding yearling I just could not do it. The two adult doe that busted me when I was trying to get a buck to come my way with the MAA MAA call never offered a shot and I am not sure what happened to the buck as the doe distracted me...
I never liked the word Trophy hunter. I like to consider myself a mature deer hunter. But it is what it is... I burn toast so cooking is not my cup of tea so to speak. With that I donate most of my meat to friends and family. My main focus of hunting has always been the ADK. Just something mystical about hunting those deep woods that grips me tight! Doe where always off limits until I took up bow hunting in 2001 but I still pass them up north due to harsh winters and low population. I did try to target one doe that busted me every time I exited the woods, lucky for her I only hunted that spot a few times, she pegged me every time.
Question: Is it wrong for me to pass doe with the hope of them producing more deer for me to enjoy? Or passing a small buck with the hopes that he will survive the season? With so many brown and down bow hunters is it really necessary for me to follow suit? I say no, another brown and down hunter is not needed. I can not say I will never shoot a doe but I find it hard to target them specifically. Maybe it's the cuteness factor? Missing head gear factor? Yes I envy those shinny antlers just as much as the next hunter and notice that even with the 4 point yesterday my nerves got the best of me until I saw him in full view and gave him a pass.
Is this wrong? Does anyone else pass deer like this? Should I go out tomorrow and shoot the first deer I see just to get one with a bow? I am told that I need to shoot more deer with my bow so I have better experience. Funny to me as my experience has taught me that killing many deer does not always equal a good hunter. The extra time in the woods when I do not shoot has been enlightening as I get to observe more deer and gain more knowledge, something I find hard to sacrifice.
Does one have to kill many deer to PROVE they are good hunters? Seems to be the way many think but first hand experience has proven otherwise. I know a few hunters who kill many deer from 20+ feet in the air or on private property that deer must travel through but there knowledge on actual deer hunting is minimal. These guys are great shots and kill many suburban deer but IMO that does not always equal hunter knowledge just killing experience. Are they the same, NO IMO but then again I seem to be the minority...
What are your thoughts?
Does the guy who has private property and kills many deer a year a better hunter than the guy who gets one every few years off of public land? Seems to be how many think but does not seem to always be the case. I have hunted both and the opportunities on private land vs public can vary greatly. Private land offers the same routes for deer every year with the same stands in place all year and as a home owner I know exactly where they travel, not the same as having the orange army hunting with you on hundreds to thousands of acres. Sorry I am just ranting at this point... I went from shooting doe to hunting knowledge to public vs private but they all seem to relate to how hunters perceive others with the amount of deer harvested.
Is the guy who never shot a deer on public land a bad hunter vs the guy who shoots over 100 on a farm. Opinions vary but in my experience public land hunters are some of the most knowledgeable hunters due to so many other factors that private land does not have to deal with. This does not mean I think private land hunters are not knowledgeable, they are. And just because someone hunts public land does not make the more knowledgeable. Two different worlds and ways of thinking. I just can't always equate killing many deer with level of knowledge.
This first pic was the day I found the largest buck track of my life, I was exhausted but enthusiastic! Second pic was with my hunting partner of over 25 years helping drag him out the next day. Shawn is one of the most knowledgeable hunters I know and has the highest of ethics and has never taken a shot in NY. Bad hunter, NO way!!! Experienced and woods smart? YES! Some may base hunting skills on kills but not me and this guy is living proof just like many other public land hunters. God Bless you Shawn I hope your first buck is nothing short of spectacular!
The real question is this: How do you figure a hunters knowledge and skills? Deer killed? Rack size? Knowledge on their prey? Tree stand vs stalking? Public vs private? Arg as you can see this is a topic I am passionate about, but enough ranting time to go shoot the bow!
NFA
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