Region 4 Deer Forecast
Most Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in Region 4 continued to experience slight or moderate gains in buck takes in areas that were below the buck take objective. A moderate antlerless harvest combined with the recent mild winters, should allow for continued population growth in most units. Several units (4B, 4G, 4P, 4R, and 4T) are at or slightly above their buck take objectives. As more units approach, or reach their respective management objectives, efforts will shift to stabilizing the deer population in those areas.
Unit Summary for the 2009 Season
Included in the discussion of most 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 4, WMUs 4F, 4M, 4N, 4K, 4L, and 4X are affected. WMU 4M has been split and merged with WMUs 4K and 4L. WMU 4N has been incorporated into WMU 4F, and WMU 4X has been incorporated into WMU 3A. 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 4A
Area = 430 square miles
BTO = 1.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 1.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.6 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4A is located in northern Schoharie, eastern Montgomery and western Schenectady Counties. There is a fair amount of agriculture in the area with two sizable state forests in the center (Charleston and Rural Grove State Forests) providing public deer hunting. The recent management strategy in this unit has been to allow for slow growth until the BTO is achieved. For 2009 the buck harvest will most likely remain stable or show a slight increase. Almost half of the adult female deer harvested in this unit are taken with archery and muzzleloader tags. The result is that the number of DMPs must be significantly reduced to prevent the overharvest of antlerless deer. Due to the large number of applicants and the relatively low number of permits in this area, only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting permits. Residents without preference points will not get a permit and second permits are not available in this unit.
WMU 4B
Area = 162 square miles
BTO = 1.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 1.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.6 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4B is located in Albany County, south and west of the City of Albany. Deer populations are difficult to manage in this area due to the unit's suburban character and very limited access for hunting. Additionally, because of the limited hunting pressure, the buck take may not be a reliable population measure. Other indicators, such as the Bowhunter Sighting Log, become important tools for managing these areas. The buck take in this unit increased to 1.3 bucks per square mile in 2008 and may increase slightly in 2009. Resident applicants will have a high chance of receiving a first permit, but second permits will not be available in 4B.
WMU 4C
Area = 165 square miles
BTO = 4.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 3.8 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 5.4 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4C is located in northern Rensselaer County. This area is predominantly farm land with some forested area. The unit includes very little public land for hunting. The buck take increased substantially in 2008 to 3.8 bucks per square, and is expected to increase again this year. Permit numbers will be increased this year to begin slowing the growth in this unit. Only landowners and residents with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available in this unit.
WMU 4F
Area = 1167 square miles
BTO = 3.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.9 bucks harvested per square mile (calculated for the revised unit area)
2008 Total Deer Take = 5.2 deer harvested per square mile (calculated for the revised unit area)
Based upon the similarities in habitat and management goals, WMU 4N was has been merged into WMU 4F. WMU 4F encompasses most of Otsego County and has fairly good deer habitat throughout the area. Most of the area consists of rolling forested terrain with some agriculture in the valleys. Several state forest areas are interspersed throughout the unit and provide some public access for hunting. The deer population remains below the management objective, but the buck take increased in 2008 and is expected to increase again slightly in 2009. A continued conservative DMP allocation is aimed at maintaining slow growth toward the objective. Once again resident applicants without preference points will have a low chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available in this unit.
WMU 4G
Area = 371 square miles
BTO = 2.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 4.4 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4G encompasses much of Schoharie County. The Schoharie Valley runs directly through this unit and includes some hilly and occasionally steep wooded areas with fairly intensive agriculture in the valley. Agricultural damage and high numbers of vehicle collisions are concerns in the valley. Several state forest areas provide some public access. The 2008 buck take of 2.6 was slightly above the management objective and the 2009 take should be similar. Management efforts will be focused on slightly reducing the population and then maintaining stability near the objective. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available in this unit.
WMU 4H
Area = 290 square miles
BTO = 3.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 3.9 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4H lies primarily in Albany County and includes a large portion of the Helderberg Mountains. Public access is available on several pieces of state land in the central-western portion of the unit. Given reduced levels of antlerless take the past few years, we should see a modest increase in buck take for 2009. Permit numbers will remain relatively low this fall to allow this population to increase. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available in this unit.
WMU 4J
Area = 149 square miles
BTO = None
2008 Buck Take = 1.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.8 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4J is a bowhunting-only unit in Albany County, including the City of Albany and several of the adjacent suburban towns. Gaining access to hunt in WMU 4J is difficult and limits the number of hunters. The only public land within WMU 4J open to hunting is the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. While the Preserve encompasses 3,000 acres, hunting can be challenging due to its urban/suburban character, dense vegetation, and other public uses of the property. The result is a large deer population with a very low deer harvest. The buck take averages only 0.9 bucks per square mile and is not considered an accurate indicator of population trends in this area. In an effort to increase the antlerless harvest in this unit, Bonus Permits are issued at two check stations, the Five Rivers Education Center in Delmar and the regional office in Schenectady. Bonus Permits are only issued to bowhunters who have harvested an antlerless deer on a 4J DMP. Hunters can continue to shoot antlerless deer and can receive as many Bonus Permits as they are willing to fill, provided they continue to shoot antlerless deer. Applicants in this unit will have a high chance of getting first permits and residents have medium chance for drawing second permits during the instant lottery. Due to concerns of DMP misuse (DMPs used in the wrong WMU), DMPs for 4J will not be offered in the "First-Come/First-Serve" drawing that typically was offered on November 1. Hunters must apply by October 1, 2009 to receive a DMP in this area.
WMU 4K
Area = 256 square miles
BTO = 3.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 1.5 bucks harvested per square mile (calculated for the revised unit area)
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.1 deer harvested per square mile (calculated for the revised unit area)
WMU 4K is in southern Rensselaer County, is bordered on the west by the Hudson River and now extends east to the Massachusetts border. This year 4K was expanded eastward by adding the portion of unit 4M that was south of Route 43. WMU 4K is fairly flat and consists of a mosaic of residential, agricultural and forest land with limited hunting access. The buck take has remained low in this area but is expected to increase in 2009. No DMPs will be issued in 4K in 2009 to allow the population to continue to increase toward the objective.
WMU 4L
Area = 221 square miles
BTO = 2.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 1.7 bucks harvested per square mile (calculated for the revised unit area)
2008 Total Deer Take = 2.1 deer harvested per square mile (calculated for the revised unit area)
WMU 4L is located in central Rensselaer County in the Rensselaer Hills, and now includes a portion of the Taconic Mountains extending the WMU to the Massachusetts border. This year the northern portion of unit 4M was added to 4L. There is substantial public access in 4L including the Capital District Wildlife Management Area, Pittstown State Forest, Tibbitts State Forest, Taconic Ridge State Forest, Berlin State Forest as well as properties under conservation easement along the Taconic ridge. The buck take increased to 1.7 last season, and may increase again in 2009. Antlerless take during bowhunting and muzzleloading seasons is fairly high and there will be no additional antlerless harvest with DMPs in this unit for the coming season.
WMU 4M
In an effort to facilitate deer management in this area, unit 4M has been absorbed by two of the adjoining units. The portion of 4M that was north of Route 43 is now part of 4L, and the remainder of the area in 4M (south of Route 43) is now part of unit 4K.
WMU 4N
Based upon similarities in habitat and management goals in 4N and 4F, unit 4N has been combined with unit 4F.
WMU 4O
Area = 760 square miles
BTO = 3.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.5 bucks harvested per square mile (calculated for the revised unit area)
2008 Total Deer Take = 3.9 deer harvested per square mile (calculated for the revised unit area)
Unit 4O covers the northwestern half of Delaware County. It consists of active and abandoned agricultural lands mixed with large blocks of forest. The terrain is moderate to steep. This year, the western boundary of WMU 4O was moved from the Susquehanna River to Route 7 and Route 79. There is a large piece of state forest land in the western part of the unit for public hunting. New York City Department of Environmental Protection ( DEP) lands around the Canonsville Reservoir also offer public hunting. A free permit is required from DEP. The buck take increased slightly in 2008 to 2.5 bucks per square mile and should continue to rise 2009. DMP numbers will remain similar to last year to continue to allow moderate growth of this population. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
WMU 4P
Area = 361 square miles
BTO = 2.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 4.5 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4P is located in eastern Delaware County on the edge of the Catskill Mountains. It consists of active and abandoned agricultural lands and large blocks of forest. The terrain is moderate to steep. There are a few moderate sized parcels of state forest lands in the unit. New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) lands around the Pepacton Reservoir also offer public hunting. A free permit is required from DEP. The buck take increased faster than expected in 2008, from 2.2 to 2.9 bucks per square mile, and is now just above the unit's objective. The 2009 season will probably result in another increase in buck take. Permits will be increased this year in an effort to stop population growth and keep the buck take close to the objective. Resident applicants will have a medium chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
WMU 4R
Area = 290 square miles
BTO = 2.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 4.3 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4R is located in portions of Greene and Delaware Counties in the northern Catskills. It contains a combination of forested mountains and agriculture. The terrain is moderate to steep. There are some state forest preserve lands in the southern portion of the unit for public hunting. A Citizen Task Force was convened in 4R in 2006 to evaluate the existing BTO and discuss the desired deer population among stakeholder group representatives. The task force recommended a 10% increase above the 2006 population in effort to satisfy sportsmen interests, positively impact hunting and tourism related businesses, while limiting the potential for negative impacts by deer on agricultural and forested properties. The current BTO of 2.0 was established based on the task force recommendations and the results of the 2006 hunting seasons. The buck take 4R appears to be leveling off just above the management objective. Accordingly, the DMP target for WMU 4R will be similar to 2008 to hold this population close to the objective. Resident applicants will have a medium chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
WMU 4S
Area = 220 square miles
BTO = 3.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 3.5 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4S is located in northeastern Greene County with a small portion in Albany County. The Hudson River is the eastern boundary for much of the unit. The eastern section is fairly flat but rises westward into moderately steeper terrain. There is little public access in this unit. Once again the buck take increased slightly in 2008, and is expected to level off this coming season. A small number of permits will be issued this season to allow this unit to continue to grow towards the management objective. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
WMU 4T
Area = 132 square miles
BTO = 2.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 3.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 6.6 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4T is located in northwestern Columbia County with the Hudson River as the western boundary. Much of the area is agricultural and deer damage is a significant problem. Public access for hunting is very limited in this unit. The 2008 buck take increased to 3.3 bucks per square mile and indicates this population is continuing to grow. A moderate increase in the number of deer management permits will be issued to stop growth and move the harvest back toward the buck take objective. Residents will have a high chance of drawing their first permit in this unit. Second permits will only be available to residents with preference points. Hunters are reminded that preference points are won and lost on the first permit selection, so only applicants that are denied a first permit will have preference points available for their second permit selection.
WMU 4U
Area = 127 square miles
BTO = 4.1 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 3.1 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4U is located in northeastern Columbia County and borders Massachusetts. Public access is limited to Beebe Hill State Forest in the southern portion of the unit. Buck harvest leveled off at 2.0 bucks per square mile last season and the population is currently well below the objective. This unit continues to respond very slowly to management efforts designed to allow for growth. There will be no DMPs available for this unit in 2009.
WMU 4W
Area = 443 square miles
BTO = 4.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 3.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 4.8 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4W is located in southern Delaware County. It consists mostly of steep forested lands in the Catskill Mountains. There are a few large parcels of state forest land and Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area which add up to thousands of acres of public access for hunting. New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) lands around the Pepacton and Canonsville Reservoirs also offer public hunting. A free permit is required from DEP. The population has been growing since 2007 and further increases are expected to be evident in the 2009 take. A moderate number of permits will be issued this year to allow for continued growth. Resident applicants will have a medium chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
WMU 4X
Based upon similarities in habitat and management goals in 4X and 3A, unit 4X has been combined with unit 3A. Please refer to the WMU 3A forecast for this area.
WMU 4Y
Area = 177 square miles
BTO = 3.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 3.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 7.1 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4Y is located in southwestern Columbia County with the Hudson River as the western boundary of the unit. This unit contains a large amount of agricultural land, including a number of orchards, making it highly productive for deer. Public hunting access is very limited in this unit. The buck take continued to rise in 2008 and should continue to increase slowly as the population in this unit approaches the objective level. A moderate number of deer management permits will be issued in this unit to maintain modest population growth. Resident applicants will have a high chance of getting a first permit while nonresidents will need preference points to have a chance for a first permit. Second permits will not be available in 4Y this year.
WMU 4Z
Area = 251 square miles
BTO = 4.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Buck Take = 2.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2008 Total Deer Take = 4.5 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4Z is located in southeastern Columbia County bordering Massachusetts. Similar in character to WMU 4Y, there is a high proportion of agricultural land in the unit, including a number of truck farms and tree nurseries. Hunter access is very limited in the unit. Buck take remained low in 2008, but should begin to rise again this fall. DMP numbers will remain low in 2009 to allow for population growth. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
Jeffrey Peil
Region 4 Deer Biologist
