From the July 2005 issue

DEC Announces Adoption of New Deer Hunting Season Changes

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan announced the adoption of a number of proposed changes to the Southern Zone deer hunting season for 2005. "After several months of evaluating the input received from the public, DEC's modifications to the deer hunting season structure represent a number of changes that will enhance youth hunting opportunities, expand existing seasons, and create new and unique opportunities to learn about additional deer management tools," Commissioner Sheehan said. "These changes reflect the changing needs of deer management and deer hunters."

Opening Days and Season Lengths

Archery season will
also open on a Saturday,
so that bowhunters will
have the same advantage
as other hunters

The most prominent change is moving the opening day of the southern zone regular deer season from a Monday to a Saturday. This change provides opening day hunting opportunities for young hunters and others who are unable to take time off from work during the week. DEC hopes this opportunity will be actively embraced by young hunters. Similarly, a switch to a standard Saturday opening day for the early archery season provides similar benefits for bowhunters. In addition, extending to nine days the late archery and muzzleloader seasons that occur after the regular season makes late deer hunting opportunities more consistent.

A minor change to the Northern Zone will change WMUs 6A, 6G, and 6H to allow the taking of deer of either sex during the special muzzleloader seasons. Previously, only antlerless deer had been legal during these periods.

Buck Pilot Program

A pilot program to expand the age structure of the buck population will be implemented in two wildlife management units (WMUs) located primarily in Ulster County. The pilot antler restriction program is the result of a strong level of local support from hunting groups. This new harvest strategy will require bucks taken in WMUs 3C and 3J to have at least three antler points on one side to be legal. Similar voluntary alternative harvest programs have been implemented in various locations throughout New York State, but success has been hindered by their voluntary nature. Mandatory programs exist in other states, where they have been successful and are well received by sportsmen and women. Young hunters, under the age of 17, would be exempt from the three-point requirement.

Deferred Proposal

An earlier proposal to establish a new early, special, antlerless-only muzzleloader season in the Southern Zone was met with considerable opposition. The proposal was intended to enhance and diversify antlerless deer harvests, which are a key component of New York's deer management program. Deer numbers have declined throughout much of the Southern Zone as a result of a number of factors, including two successive harsh winters. Accordingly, this proposal will be deferred until deer numbers recover and the season would have more value as an additional management tool.

Deer Management Permits

In response to lower deer harvests throughout a large portion of the state in 2004, DEC wildlife biologists have reduced the number of deer management permits (DMP) in many areas. Approximately 320,000 DMPs will be available this fall, representing a decline of about 40 percent from 2004 levels. This change reflects the lower deer numbers throughout most of the Southern Zone.

Season Changes for Other Game

Because hunting season dates for some other game are aligned with deer hunting seasons, some modifications of these seasons have also been adopted. The regular open seasons for black bear hunting will be advanced in the Catskills to the Monday following the opening weekend for firearms deer hunting; bear opens November 21 this fall. The bear hunting season in the Allegany region will begin one week after the opening of the deer hunting season. The fall turkey and pheasant hunting seasons in some areas of western New York will be adjusted to also open on a Saturday and close on the Friday before the regular season opener in order to maintain the same number of days for hunting these species.

Southern Zone Deer Season Changes

Early Archery Season - First Saturday in October after Columbus Day to the day before the Regular Season (35 days)

For 2005: October 15 through November 18
Regular Season - Third Saturday in November for 23 days

For 2005: November 19 through December 11 (includes four weekends)
Late Archery and Muzzleloader Seasons - First day after the close of the regular season, running for nine days

For 2005: December 12 through December 20 (leftover tags still valid)

Antler Restriction Pilot Study - WMUs 3C and 3J (all seasons). Limits harvest of antlered deer to those with at least three antler points on one side. Smaller antlered bucks cannot be taken. Hunters under the age of 17 are exempt and may take a buck with an antler or antlers measuring more than three inches in length
Black Bear Regular Seasons

Catskill Range: November 21 through December 12

Allegany Range: November 26 through December 12