From the September 2003 issue

2003-2004 Sporting Licenses Now Available

As of August 18, 2003, hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and deer management permits for 2003-04 were available to order by mail or phone, or to purchase at one of New York State's 1,600 license sales outlets.

The Department of Environmental Conservation Automated Licensing System (DECALS) is New York State's system for issuing sporting licenses and is also used to track sales and revenues.

Individuals may purchase 2003-04 licenses and permits through DECALS:

At all license-issuing outlets across the state, including the 2003 New York State Fair in Syracuse
By mail at MCI, P.O. Box 36985, Phoenix, AZ 85067-6985
By phone at 1-86-NY-DECALS (1-866-933-2257) from 8 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday, if the applicant purchased a license through the DECALS system previously

License and Carcass Tag Set Improvements

DEC has improved sporting license and carcass tag sets to make it easier for hunters to read and use them. This year, the printing on licenses and carcass tags is larger and more distinct; long numbers are broken into short strings for easier recognition; harvest-date cutouts are larger and more spread out; rules and regulations have been changed to allow hunters to cut out or mark (with permanent ink) the day and month of the harvest; tag names have been changed slightly to make them consistent and more easily understood by hunters, and the carcass tag attachment hole has been moved farther away from the edge to reduce tear-outs.

Obtaining a Resident License

To qualify for a resident license, applicants should be prepared to provide their name and address; proof of residency (driver's license number or non-driver's ID number), and, when purchasing by phone, a MasterCard or Visa credit card number and expiration date. To purchase a hunting license, an individual must show proof of hunting education certification or a copy of their license from the previous year unless this information already appears in their DECALS file.

Deer Management Permits

Deer management permits (DMP) for antlerless deer are available at the point-of-sale and will be issued by random selection through October 1, 2003. If selected, applicants will receive their permit(s) immediately. The odds of being selected for a permit are based on the number of applications expected for each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) and the number of permits that DEC wants to issue for each. Hunters need not rush to apply because the odds of being selected for a DMP are the same every day from August 18 through October 1. If necessary, sales of leftover DMPs will commence on November 1, 2003 and continue until the end of the hunting season, or until all permits have been issued.

DEC plans to issue approximately 640,000 deer management permits this year, a number that is slightly lower than last year's quota. While deer populations are still very high in New York State--well over one million--last winter's severe weather reduced them in some areas of the Northern Zone and the Catskills, and a number of Wildlife Management Units in the western part of the state are closer now to management objectives.

Because hunters are no longer required to complete a mail-in DMP application, the former DMP Application/Information booklet has been discontinued. Instead, information will be included in this year's hunting syllabus and will list the chances of getting a DMP for each wildlife management unit. Hunters should refer to this information--available at all license sales outlets--before applying for permits.

Additional information about required documentation, application materials, and licenses and permits is available by calling the state's DMP/Sporting License Hotline at 1-866-472-4332 from 8 AM until 6 PM Monday through Friday, or by visiting DEC's website (see link below).

Policy Changes

Proceeds from the sale of DEC's optional
Habitat/Access Stamp will help to support
habitat conservation and public access to
activities involving fish and wildlife

Changes made to DEC's deer management and hunting, fishing and trapping policies include the following:

Game Harvest Telephone Reporting System

This system has undergone major revisions to facilitate reporting, including the addition of phone lines and the installation of improved software.

Patriot Plan for Active Service Military Personnel

On July 3, 2003, Governor Pataki signed legislation which provides free big game and small game hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to New York State residents who are active members of the organized militia and U.S. Reserve, including: NY Army National Guard, NY Air National Guard, NY Naval, NY Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Naval Reserve, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, U.S. Air Force Reserve, and the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Applicants must be New York State residents; apply in person at a license issuing outlet; show their military ID card; complete an affadavit, and possess sportsman education certification. For more information, call 1-866-472-4332 or visit DEC's website.

Habitat/Access Stamp

DEC encourages all outdoor enthusiasts to consider purchasing a Habitat/Access Stamp when they purchase their license. The Habitat/Access Stamp is an optional stamp that is available to people who want to support DEC's efforts to conserve habitat and increase public access for recreation related to fish and wildlife. This year's stamp features a line drawing of a brook trout taking a fly. Buying a stamp, which costs $5.00, is the perfect way for young or old, angler or hunter, birder or photographer to help conserve New York State's fabulous wildlife heritage. More information can be found on DEC's website.

Chronic Wasting Disease Prevention

Sampling of wild deer from across New York State is underway, and, to date, DEC has had approximately 1,250 deer tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). No cases of CWD have been detected in the state. Sampling is continuing with an additional 1,000 deer expected to be tested by the end of the year. DEC also has adopted a permanent regulation on CWD, which is part of DEC's comprehensive CWD management effort. The regulation does the following:

Imposes a continuing restriction on the import of certain species of deer and elk. Special exceptions may be allowed under permit from the State Department of Agriculture and Markets for zoological and exhibition purposes only.
Imposes a continuing restriction on feeding wild deer. Feeding practices associated with bona fide agricultural practices, planting of food plots, cutting of trees and brush, and other practices specifically licensed by DEC in support of scientific research, nuisance abatement, and population reduction programs will be allowed. In addition, a ban on the feeding of wild or captive deer and elk with any material that contains protein derived from mammalian tissues has been continued.
Restricts the importation and possession of high-risk tissues where CWD has been shown to be concentrated. These parts include the brain, eyes, spinal cord, retropharyngeal lymph nodes, tonsils and spleen. Whole carcasses or carcass parts from wild deer and wild elk taken in 21 eastern states and 6 eastern provinces of Canada where CWD has not been found are exempt from this restriction. High-risk parts from deer and elk originating from captive herds anywhere outside of New York State may not be imported. All carcasses or packages containing parts of wild deer or elk must have a label attached that identifies the species of animal, state or province where it was taken, and the name and address of the person taking the animal.
Restricts the liberation of specified species of deer and elk. An exception is made for wild white-tailed deer temporarily held under DEC license, such as those under the care of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Allows the transportation of deer carcasses and parts through New York State, provided that no part is disposed of, or delivered to, any person in the state.
Allows DEC to enforce the provisions of this regulation and to quickly respond to potentially diseased animals or animal parts. One such provision requires that anyone who imports or possesses a carcass or part taken outside New York State and is notified that the taken animal was found to have CWD must report this finding to DEC within 24 hours of notification.

The full text of this regulation, including the complete list of states and Canadian provinces exempted from the import restriction, and additional information about CWD and DEC's surveillance program, is available by writing to: CWD Regulations, 625 Broadway, Fifth Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4754 or by visiting DEC's website.

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