Antler Restriction Program
The antler restriction program in the Southern Catskills includes WMUs 3C, 3H, 3J & 3K. See the Deer Seasons Map for season dates and location of the antler restriction WMUs.
The key elements of the antler restriction include:
- Bucks taken in these WMUs must have at least one antler with 3 or more points that are at least one inch long.
- The restriction applies on all public and private land within the WMUs.
- The restriction applies during all hunting seasons (bowhunting, regular and muzzleloading).
- Hunters under 17 years of age are exempt from the three point requirement.
- Antlerless deer are still classified as any deer having no antlers or antlers less than 3 inches long.
Why Was This Program Initiated?
For nearly 100 years, a "legal buck" has been a deer with at least one antler that is 3 inches long or longer. However, in recent years, there has been growing interest and debate among hunters about establishing a different buck harvest standard in New York through an antler restriction program. In simple terms, these programs produce bucks that live longer.
The antler restriction program was initiated in 2005 in WMUs 3C and 3J. Based upon strong local support, the antler restriction pilot was expanded to include WMUs 3H and 3K in 2006. DEC is evaluating the impact of the pilot antler restriction by monitoring changes evident in the deer harvest and by monitoring hunter attitudes through survey work conducted by the Human Dimensions Research Unit at Cornell University.
What Should Hunters Expect with An Antler Restriction Program?
Although programs using antler restrictions may have several effects on a deer herd, people should have realistic expectations on what they may see accomplished. Some changes will be obvious and others, if they occur, may be subtle and difficult to note in the field.
Buck Numbers, Size and Age
- More young bucks surviving the hunting season and into the older age classes.
- Higher overall buck numbers at the start of subsequent hunting seasons.
- A large portion of each Fall's buck population would be young bucks that do not meet the minimum harvest criteria and therefore could not be harvested.
- The extent of the age and size that some bucks obtain will depend on habitat quality and the specifics of the antler restriction program.
Breeding Behavior and Success
- New York's deer population has demonstrated rapid growth potential and shows no evidence of compromised breeding success. No significant change in herd productivity should be expected.
- More bucks, including older bucks, may increase competition for breeding opportunities between bucks and may increase the intensity of the rut.
- The timing of the rut is largely tied to seasonal changes (day length) so dramatic changes in breeding timing or success should not be expected with an antler restriction.
Harvest Prospects
- The population management goal for an area would not change, but herd composition and harvest opportunity would change.
- Implementation of antler restrictions results in an initial period of significantly reduced buck harvest and somewhat lower buck harvest potential for the long term.
- Hunters must be more selective and a portion of the bucks they see will have to be passed up.
Are Antler Restrictions Being Considered for Other Portions of New York?
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recognizes that antler restrictions can be part of a viable deer management program and DEC supports voluntary programs of this type. However, DEC does not see a critical biological need or compelling management advantage to mandate such restrictions. Thus, changing buck harvest standards would be primarily a response to strong interest among hunters.
Mandating antler restrictions would be a substantial change to deer hunting traditions in New York. As such, DEC believes it is important that broad support be documented before imposing new harvest regulations on all hunters. Fundamental to the process for evaluating antler restriction proposals are several factors:
- Grassroot support among hunters must be demonstrated by the group presenting a proposal.
- The geographic scope of the proposal must be based on WMUs, not political boundaries (such as a county) and the area must be large enough to allow for the scientific measurement of hunter opinion and monitoring of potential impacts of antler restrictions on the deer population and harvest.
- Antler point restrictions should be based on protecting most yearling bucks.
- Antler restrictions would apply on public and private land and during all hunting seasons. Junior Hunters would always be exempt antler restriction regulations.
- When appropriate and feasible, the level of support should be determined using scientifically rigorous surveys of people who hunt in the WMUs in question.
- At least 67% support and no more than 20% strong opposition of hunters who hunt in that area must be established before considering formally proposing a change of the regulations. Note: formal regulatory proposals from DEC require endorsement by the Commissioner, publication of proposed changes, and a formal public comment period.
- Subsequent evaluations may be used to determine whether antler restriction programs should continue.
See the pamphlet, Buck Harvest Standards: What should hunters expect from an antler restriction program? (77K pdf), which also highlights DEC's position regarding antler restrictions.
Buck Harvest in the Pilot Antler Restriction Units (WMUs 3C, 3H, 3J and 3K)
Harvest data (2003-2007) from the pilot units indicate:
- overall buck take is reduced;
- bucks 2.5 years and older make up a greater proportion of the buck take; and
- the number of 2.5 year old and older bucks taken with antler restrictions is about the same as prior to antler restrictions.
More about Antler Restriction Program:
- Hunter Attitudes about Antler Restrictions - This page displays survey results of hunter attitudes about mandatory antler restriction programs in New York State. Links to various survey reports are also included.
