Region 6 Deer Forecast
Unit Summary for the 2007 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 desired level as determined 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 6A
Area = 1,472 square miles
BTO = 1.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 3.0 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. Following a rapid rise in deer numbers in the 1990s, management directed at reducing the population has effectively lowered numbers over the past few years. Higher than anticipated antlerless deer take in 2002-2004 reduced the population to slightly lower than the objective. Fewer DMPs were issued in 2005 and 2006 to allow for herd growth. A small increase in deer numbers was evident in 2006, and a similar trend is expected in 2007. DMPs remain at relatively low numbers and will only be available to resident hunters holding preference points.
WMU 6C
Area = 884 square miles
BTO = 1.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.8 deer harvested per square mile
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. 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 1900's, with declines evident since 2002. 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. In an effort to allow for more rapid herd rebound, no DMPs were available in the Unit in 2006. In 2007, a small number of DMPs are available to resident hunters with preference points.
WMU 6F
Area = 1,213 square miles
BTO = None
2006 Buck Take = 0.8 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 1.1 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 which can occur as a result of winter. With relatively mild winter conditions experienced in 2006, deer survival and subsequent fawn numbers should be good. Deer numbers in 2007 should be similar to those observed in 2006.
WMU 6G
Area = 1,015 square miles
BTO = 1.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 5.7 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6G is located along the eastern Lake Ontario plain in Jefferson and Oswego counties. The dominant land use is agricultural. Deer herds in this unit followed a similar growth trend to other peripheral Adirondack areas, peaking about four years ago. 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 2007 hunters should expect to find a similar number of deer to those observed in 2006. DMP issuance will be higher than last year, but due to the large number of applicants, permit availability will be limited to a about half of resident hunters without preference points.
WMU 6H
Area = 173 square miles
BTO = None
2006 Buck Take = 1.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.7 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 2007 to recent years due good deer survival this past winter. DMPs are available in WMU 6H, and resident hunters without a preference point have a low chance of receiving a first permit.
WMU 6J
Area = 1,669 square miles
BTO = None
2006 Buck Take = 0.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 1.0 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6J is primarily an Adirondack unit, although the western edge includes portions of the Black River valley. It includes parts of Lewis, Herkimer, Hamilton, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties. 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 have been low following severe conditions in 2002 and 2003, but the mild winter of 2005-06 provided a modest increase in 2006. Winter loss during the past winter was relatively low suggesting similar or slightly higher numbers this fall. No DMPs are available in WMU 6J.
WMU 6K
Area = 1,079 square miles
BTO = 1.8 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 3.0 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 6K is situated in portions of Lewis, Oswego, Oneida and Jefferson counties and makes up the western fringe of the Tug Hill Plateau. 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 takes have declined from a peak total take in 2002, but the winter of 2005-06 was exceptionally mild and deer numbers increased in 2006. Portions of the unit experienced very heavy snowfall in the past winter resulting in localized losses. While WMU 6K is near the buck harvest objective, DMP numbers were not increased substantially due to observed winter loss. Continued low DMP issuance this fall will mean that preference points will be necessary to obtain a DMP.
WMU 6N
Area = 491 square miles
BTO = None
2006 Buck Take = 1.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 1.5 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 east. Deer populations are heavily influenced by frequent severe winters. Because of low deer numbers over the past several years, WMU 6N has been a "buck only" unit during the muzzle-loader season. An increase in the deer population was observed last year, and in spite of moderate winter loss during the past winter, the deer population should remain stable. No DMPs are available in this unit.
WMU 6P
Area = 203 square miles
BTO = 1.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 3.5 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 were found through mandatory testing of all hunter killed deer in 2005 and 2006, 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 spread of CWD. DMP availability is moderately high, and most applicants without preference points will receive a permit.
WMU 6R
Area = 542 square miles
BTO = 0.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.7 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 2007 hunting season should be lower than 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
2006 Buck Take = 2.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 3.3 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 in the last two 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. Hunters without preference points will have a low likelihood of receiving a DMP in 2007.
