Region 4 Deer Forecast
Most Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in region 4 experienced slight or moderate gains in buck takes during the 2006 season. Reduced antlerless harvest combined with the mild winter of 2006-07 should allow for continued population growth throughout the region. The Catskill units 4O, 4P, 4R, 4W and 4X have all displayed good increases in buck take and deer management permits will be reintroduced in small numbers in all of these units this year. East of the Hudson River, most units will continue to have conservative permit quotas and units 4L, 4M, and 4U will be closed for 2007. As units approach, or reach objective population levels, management efforts will shift to stabilizing the population in those areas.
Unit Summary for the 2007 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 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 4A
Area = 430 square miles
BTO = 1.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.4 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4A is located in northern Schoharie, eastern Montgomery and western Schenectady Counties. The recent management strategy in this unit has been to allow for slow growth until the buck take objective is achieved. Once again the buck take showed a modest gain last year and we expect a slight increase for 2007. 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 is 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
2006 Buck Take = 1.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 3.3 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4B is located in Albany County, south and west of the City of Albany. This unit does not respond well to management actions due to its suburban character and very limited access for hunting. The buck take in the unit has been stable for several years and remains above the objective. While the buck take would normally suggest a fairly stable population, other indicators, such as the Bowhunter Sighting Log and last year's drop in the female harvest, point to a lower population. We may see a slight drop in the buck take in 2007. Resident applicants will have a medium 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
2006 Buck Take = 3.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.5 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4C is located in northern Rensselaer County. Efforts to allow for population growth in this unit have been thwarted for the past few years by harvests of female deer that have continued to exceed expectations. The actual female harvests in this unit have been well over our targets for the several seasons, while the buck take has hovered around 3.0 bucks per square mile. We expect the 2007 buck harvest to remain around 3.0. We should see this area rebound in succeeding years as permit reductions finally start to have an impact. 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 4F
Area = 961 square miles
BTO = 3.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.8 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.5 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4F encompasses most of Otsego County and has fairly good deer habitat throughout the area. However, foresters are concerned that the deer population may be limiting forest regeneration in this area. The buck take has gradually climbed in 4F and should continue to increase moderately in 2007 to about 3.0 bucks per square mile. 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
2006 Buck Take = 2.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.0 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4G encompasses much of Schoharie County. Agricultural damage and high numbers of vehicle collisions are concerns in this area. The buck take in this unit is now slightly over the objective, and due to reduce antlerless take over the past 2 years, we will probably see another increase in buck take this year. Permits will be increased this year to hold the deer population close to 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
2006 Buck Take = 2.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 3.5 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4H lies primarily in Albany County and includes a large portion of the Helderberg Mountains. The buck take increased from 2.2 bucks per square mile in 2005 to 2.5 in 2006 and should increase slightly this year. Permits will be kept low this fall to allow this population to continue to build toward the buck take 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 4J
Area = 149 square miles
BTO = None
2006 Buck Take = 0.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.6 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4J is an archery-only unit in Albany County, including the City of Albany and several of the adjacent suburban towns. Gaining access to hunt in this area is difficult and limits the number of hunters. 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 measure of population trends.
In an effort to increase the antlerless harvest in this unit, Bonus Permits are issued at two check stations situated at the Five Rivers Education Center in Delmar and at the regional office in Schenectady. Bonus Permits are only issued to bow hunters 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 and 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, 2007 to receive a permit in this area.
WMU 4K
Area = 156 square miles
BTO = 3.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.2 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4K is in southwestern Rensselaer County and runs along the Hudson River on its western shore. The buck take has remained low in this unit but should increase slightly in 2007 as a result of closing the unit to deer management permits in 2006. A small number of permits will be available to landowners and disabled veterans.
WMU 4L
Area = 178 square miles
BTO = 2.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 1.7 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4L is located in central Rensselaer County in the Rensselaer Hills. The buck take increased slightly last season and is expected to remain low this year. Female take during archery and muzzleloading seasons is fairly high and will eliminate the need to issue DMPs in this unit for the coming season. DMPs will not be available in this unit in 2007.
WMU 4M
Area = 142 square miles
BTO = 1.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 1.7 deer harvested per square mile
Unit 4M is located in southeastern and eastern Rensselaer County. This unit was closed for DMPs in 2006 to enable the population to rebound as quickly as possible. The buck take increased from 1.1 to 1.3 bucks per square mile in 2006, and we should see a slight increase in buck take this coming season as well. This unit will remain closed to DMPs in 2007 to allow for continued population growth.
WMU 4N
Area = 206 square miles
BTO = 3.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 3.5 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4N is in western Otsego County. This unit is very similar in character to 4F and may eventually be merged with 4F. The buck take continued to rise in 2006 to 2.4 bucks per square mile from 2.2 in 2005. The conservative issuance of DMPs in this unit will allow the population to continue to grow toward the objective. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
WMU 4O
Area = 744 square miles
BTO = 3.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.3 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4O covers the northwestern half of Delaware County. Forest regeneration is an important concern in this unit and may be hampered by deer browsing in some areas. The buck take increased again in 2006 from 1.7 to 1.9 bucks per square mile and should continue to rise 2007. A relatively small number of permits will be issued this year to begin moderating the 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
2006 Buck Take = 1.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.2 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4P is located in northeastern Delaware County on the edge of the Catskill Mountains. The buck take increased from 1.6 to 1.9 bucks per square mile in 2006. The Bowhunter Sighting Log indicates significant growth in this unit, and the 2007 season should experience another increase in buck take. A conservative number of permits will be issued this year to moderate growth in this unit. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a 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
2006 Buck Take = 1.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 1.8 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4R is located in the northern Catskills and contains a combination of forested mountains and agriculture. In 2006 the buck take increased from 1.5 to 1.9 bucks per square mile. The buck take should increase again in 2007 and easily reach the new objective of 2.0 bucks per square mile. DMPs will be issued this year to stabilize this population at the objective. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
A Citizen Task Force was convened in 4R during June and July, 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. A new BTO of 2.0 was established based on the task force recommendations and the results of the 2006 hunting seasons.
WMU 4S
Area = 220 square miles
BTO = 3.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.1 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.5 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. Buck take in this unit increased from 1.8 to 2.1 in 2006 and should continue to increase in 2007. A small number of permits will be issued this season which will allow this unit to continue to grow towards the 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
2006 Buck Take = 2.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.8 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4T is located in northwestern Columbia County with the Hudson River as the western boundary of this unit. Much of the area is agricultural and deer damage is a significant problem. Hunter access is limited in this unit. The buck take in 2006 increased to 2.7 and is very close to the objective of 2.9 bucks per square mile. Management efforts will now be directed at stabilizing the population at the desired objective. Residents will have a medium chance of drawing a permit in this unit. Second permits will not be available in WMU 4T this year.
WMU 4U
Area = 127 square miles
BTO = 4.1 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.8 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.3 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4U is located in northeastern Columbia County and borders the Massachusetts state line. Hunter access is limited in this unit. Buck harvest increased somewhat to 1.8 bucks per square mile last season and the take is expected to be similar in 2007. The population is currently well below the objective and deer management permits will not be issued in 2007 to allow this unit to continue to recover.
WMU 4W
Area = 443 square miles
BTO = 4.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.6 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4W is located in southern Delaware County. The buck take increased substantially from 1.6 in 2005 to 2.2 bucks per square mile in 2006. The Buck take is projected to continue to increase in 2007 and a conservative number of permits will be issued this year to allow this population to continue to grow. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
WMU 4X
Area = 80 square miles
BTO = None
2006 Buck Take = 0.8 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 0..9 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 4X is a small unit located in Greene County and includes the high peaks of the Catskill Mountains. WMU 4X includes a lot of state land in the higher elevations of the Catskills. The terrain is rugged and access is obtained at a limited number of trail heads. Hunting in WMU 4X is not for the faint of heart. Future plans call for merging this area into WMU 3A as they share many ecological similarities. The deer population in this unit is heavily influenced by winter conditions, and the buck take has averaged 0.6 bucks per square mile over the past three years. The increase in buck take to 0.8 bucks per square mile indicates this population is slowly growing and we expect this growth to continue this year. There are no DMPs available for this unit.
WMU 4Y
Area = 177 square miles
BTO = 3.9 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 3.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 5.2 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. Hunter access is limited in this unit.
The buck take turned up slightly in 2006 and should continue to increase this year. A conservative number of deer management permits will be issued in this unit to allow moderate deer population growth. Resident applicants will have a medium chance of getting 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
2006 Buck Take = 2.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.4 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 orchards. Hunter access is limited in the unit. Buck harvest in 4Z has been declining since 2001 and reached a 30 year low of 2.3 bucks harvested per square mile in 2006. The large reduction in deer management permits in 2006 is expected to have stopped the population decline. Permits will be further restricted in 2007 to assist the recovery in this unit. Only landowners and resident applicants with preference points will have a chance of getting first permits. Second permits will not be available.
