Region 6 Deer Forecast
Unit Summary for the 2009 Season
Included in the discussion of most Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) is a term called the Buck Take Objective (BTO). A BTO for a WMU is the desired number of antlered bucks expected to be harvested per square mile when the WMU's deer population is at the level recommended by the Citizen Task Force. The BTO is not the estimated take for the coming season but rather is the objective of our management efforts. The annual buck harvest is used as a gauge of population size and it's relationship to the desired population level.
WMU Revisions - Some revisions to WMUs will be in place for the 2009 season. In region 6 WMUs 6C, 6G, 6J, and 6K are affected. Hunters should carefully check maps to ensure they know the unit designation for the lands they hunt. If you hunt in these areas please review the WMU boundary descriptions.
WMU 6A
Area = 1,472 square miles
BTO = 1.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 1.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.9 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6A is situated along the St. Lawrence River in Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin counties. The landscape is primarily agricultural lowlands associated with the St. Lawrence Valley. Historically, deer numbers in this unit were quite low, but changes in land use and restrictive harvest regulations allowed for a rapid rise in deer numbers in the 1990s. Management directed at maintaining a relatively modest population has been in effect over the past several years. Following a small increase in deer numbers in 2007, a slight decrease was evident in 2008. Because the deer population remains at levels slightly below objectives, the management focus in 2009 is to allow for additional herd growth. A small increase in deer numbers is expected in 2009. DMPs remain at relatively low numbers and will only be available to resident hunters holding preference points.
WMU 6C
Area = 977 square miles
BTO = 1.8 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.0 bucks harvested per square mile (calculated for revised unit area)
2008 Total Deer Take = 3.4 deer harvested per square mile (calculated for revised unit area)
WMU 6C is considered a transitional area between the St. Lawrence River plain and the Adirondacks. It is made up of portions of Lewis, St. Lawrence and Franklin counties. The boundaries of this unit were adjusted in 2009 to include a portion of the Black River valley in Lewis County. A mix of active agriculture, abandoned crop-land and maturing forest provides good deer habitat. Winter conditions are periodically severe over portions of the unit, resulting in declines in deer numbers following severe winters. Like WMU 6A to the north, deer populations rose rapidly through the 1990's, with declines evident early in this decade. Although much of the current population status can be attributed to management directed at reductions, severe winter conditions in 2002 and 2003 contributed to declines below the population objective. Deer numbers have increased since, and were near the objective level in 2008. For 2009, expect overall deer population levels similar to last year, although winter loss in some portions of the unit may have resulted in localized declines. A large percentage of antlerless deer take in WMU 6C occurs during the early muzzleloader season. As a result, DMP issuance is relatively low. In 2009, DMPs are available, to resident hunters with preference points.
WMU 6F
Area = 1,213 square miles
BTO = None
2008 Buck Take = 1.1 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 1.3 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6F is part of the west-central Adirondack region, situated in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties. Although not as high in elevation or as rugged as the High Peaks, it is largely made up of mature forests on hilly to small mountain terrain. Deer populations are fairly stable at relatively low densities. Winter conditions in this unit tend to have more impact on deer numbers than any other factor due to high annual snowfall, cold temperatures and limited human accessibility. DMPs are not offered in this unit, or in other central Adirondack WMUs, because of low deer numbers, sensitivity to antlerless harvest and unpredictable population fluctuations due to winter impacts. With relatively mild winter conditions experienced in 2007-08, deer survival and subsequent harvest was good. Winter effects in 2008-09 were likely such that deer numbers will remain fairly stable. Deer numbers in 2009 should be similar to those observed in 2008.
WMU 6G
Area = 933 square miles
BTO = 1.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 3.0 bucks harvested per square mile (calculated for revised unit area)
2008 Total Deer Take = 6.6 deer harvested per square mile (calculated for revised unit area)
Unit 6G is located along the eastern Lake Ontario plain in Jefferson and Oswego counties. The boundaries of this unit were adjusted in 2009 by removing a portion of the unit along its former border with WMU 6N. The dominant land use is agricultural. Deer herds in this unit followed a similar growth trend to other peripheral Adirondack areas, peaking early in this decade. Following several years of high antlerless harvest, the deer population in 6G is smaller but still substantially above the objective. Recent efforts directed at lowering the size of the herd have not resulted in substantially fewer deer. In 2008, harvest was again well above objective. In 2009 hunters should expect to find a similar number of deer to those observed in 2008. DMP issuance will be higher than last year, meaning that most resident hunters will receive a first permit.
WMU 6H
Area = 173 square miles
BTO = None
2008 Buck Take = 1.1 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.6 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6H is the Ft. Drum Military Reservation, situated in Jefferson and Lewis counties. Substantial portions are open to deer hunting, although military training may affect the amount of available hunting on some dates. A Ft. Drum permit is required to hunt on fort property. Deer numbers in this unit are best described as moderate, and annual harvest varies according to available access. The population should be similar in 2009 to recent years due to relatively good deer survival this past winter. DMPs are available in WMU 6H, and resident hunters without a preference point have a high chance of receiving a first permit.
WMU 6J
Area = 1,576 square miles
BTO = None
2008 Buck Take = 1.0 bucks harvested per square mile (calculated for revised unit area)
2008 Total Deer Take = 1.4 deer harvested per square mile (calculated for revised unit area)
WMU 6J is primarily an Adirondack unit. It includes parts of Lewis, Herkimer, Hamilton, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties. The boundary of this unit was adjusted in 2009 by removing the Black River Valley portion of Lewis County and adding it to WMU 6C, a more agricultural landscape. Deer populations are relatively high in the western valley fringe but generally low in most of the unit. Winter conditions regularly drive deer numbers in this area. Deer numbers were low following severe conditions in 2002 and 2003, but the milder winters which followed provided for modest increases over the past few years. Winter effects during the 2008-09 winter were likely severe enough to prevent significant increases in deer numbers but should not result substantial declines. No DMPs are available in WMU 6J.
WMU 6K
Area = 1,161 square miles
BTO = 1.8 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.3 bucks harvested per square mile (calculated for revised unit area)
2008 Total Deer Take = 4.5 deer harvested per square mile (calculated for revised unit area)
Unit 6K is situated in portions of Lewis, Oswego, Oneida and Jefferson counties and makes up the southern, northern, and western fringe of the Tug Hill Plateau. The boundary of this unit was adjusted in 2009 to include an area formerly in WMU 6G adjacent to the central Tug Hill area. Habitat varies from agriculture in the west and south to mature forest along the boundary of WMU 6N. The unit receives abundant snowfall, and deer populations fluctuate in response to winter conditions. Deer populations have been on the rise over the past few years due to mild winter conditions and limited antlerless harvest. Portions of the unit experienced very heavy snowfall in the past winter resulting in localized losses. While harvest in WMU 6K is now above the buck take objective, DMP numbers were not increased substantially due to observed winter loss. A small increase in DMP issuance this fall will mean that some hunters without preference points will receive a DMP.
WMU 6N
Area = 491 square miles
BTO = None
2008 Buck Take = 1.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.0 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6N is the core of the Tug Hill Plateau in Lewis, Oswego and Jefferson counties. Due to its location downwind of Lake Ontario, this region experiences the highest annual snowfall in the eastern United States, and deer populations are heavily influenced by frequent severe winters. Because of low deer numbers, WMU 6N has been a "buck only" unit during the muzzleloader season, and we have begun to see modest increases in the deer population. However, moderate winter loss in 2008-09 will likely result in fewer deer for the 2009 hunting seasons and reduced harvest. No DMPs are available in this unit.
WMU 6P
Area = 203 square miles
BTO = 1.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 1.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.6 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6P makes up the eastern Oneida Lake plain in Oneida County. It is entirely contained in the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Containment Area that was established following discovery of CWD in 5 captive and 2 wild deer in April, 2005. Although no additional CWD positive deer have been found through mandatory testing of all hunter killed deer in 2005-2008, regulations require all deer taken by hunters to be submitted for testing. The goal of deer management in this unit is to hold deer populations at relatively low levels to prevent possible spread of CWD. DMP availability is moderately high, and most resident applicants without preference points will receive a permit.
WMU 6R
Area = 542 square miles
BTO = 0.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 1.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.8 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6R makes up the northern Mohawk Valley in portions of Oneida, Herkimer, Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga and Schenectady counties. Largely rolling hill and agricultural in nature, the deer population is fairly stable but above the objective level. Following a long period of slow but steady increase in deer numbers, a combination of management effort and winter kill has resulted in a slight decline from peak deer takes in 2002 and the stable situation that currently exists. Deer takes during the 2009 hunting season should be similar to last year. The availability of DMPs will be somewhat limited such that hunters without preference points will have a low probability of receiving a DMP.
WMU 6S
Area = 589 square miles
BTO = 2.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.1 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 3.7 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6S is located in the southern Mohawk Valley in Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego, Montgomery and Madison counties. The landscape includes forested hills with significant agriculture along the Mohawk River and in the valleys. In 2005, the deer population began to increase, rebounding from declines experienced in the early part of the decade. Fairly mild winter conditions concurrent with relatively low antlerless harvest over the past several years should contribute to slightly higher deer takes again this fall. Because the unit is still below the population objective, DMP numbers remain low to allow for continued herd growth in the future. About half of resident hunters without preference points who apply will receive a DMP in 2009.
Jim Farquhar
Region 6 Deer Biologist
