Environment DEC
From the May 2006 issue
Public Input Sought on Proposed Hunting Regulation Changes for Southern Zone
Black Bear Hunting
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is proposing to open three additional wildlife management units (WMUs) for black bear hunting. Wildlife management units 4F, 4G and 4H have demonstrated an increasing trend in the number and frequency of bear nuisance problems in recent years corresponding directly to increased bear populations in these areas. Bear activity and complaint levels have risen by more than 100 percent since 1999. The proposed expansion of the bear hunting area to include WMUs 4F, 4G and 4H is designed to stabilize and/or reduce the number of bears in these areas and thus reduce negative interactions between bears and people.
Deer Hunting
Smaller antlered bucks may
not be taken in areas covered
by the pilot program
DEC also is proposing an expansion of the current antler restriction pilot program for WMUs 3H and 3K. The antler restriction program was initiated in WMUs 3C and 3J in 2005 and was designed to expand the age structure of the buck population. The proposed expansion is necessary for enhancing management of the deer population and would establish minimum antler restrictions for WMUs 3H and 3K. Under the proposed regulations, deer hunters would be authorized to take bucks only in WMUs 3H and 3K that have at least one antler with a minimum of three points. Hunters under the age of 17 would be exempt from this requirement.
Further Information
To view the text of the proposed rule-making, please visit DEC's website, where designated boundaries for the WMUs also can be found. For more detailed information about the proposed changes, please see the appropriate press release, also available on DEC's website.
Public Meeting and Comment Period
DEC will host a public meeting on Wednesday, May 17, from 7 PM to 9 PM at the Schoharie County Cooperative Extension Building in Cobleskill to discuss the proposed regulation changes and to accept public comment. The comment period will remain open until June 5, 2006. Please e-mail comments with "Comments on Deer and Bear Hunting Regulations" in the subject line, or send comments to Jeremy Hurst, NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233-4754.
Note: A second meeting was announced on May 5 and will be held from 7-9 PM on Wednesday, May 31, 2006, at Granite Associates (CVI) at One Cablevision Center in Liberty, Sullivan County. This is in addition to the May 17 meeting.
