Region 3 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 for that WMU. 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 3A
Area = 614 square miles
BTO = 3.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.1 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 1.3 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3A is located in the northwestern portion of Region 3. This unit is characterized by steep slopes, rocky out crops, shallow soils and mature forests that are typical of the Catskill Mountains. A significant portion of this unit is inside of the Catskill Park boundary and is subsequently protected from forestry and all other land management activities. This unit has never reached its BTO of 3.0 bucks per square mile established in 1992, despite few or no Deer Management Permits (DMPs) issued in most years. This unit may see slightly more 2.5-year-old males this season given the mild winter of 2005-06. However, yearling deer may be less abundant due to late season snows into the spring of 2007. Overall, the buck take will likely not change much from 2006. Again, there will be no DMPs issued in this unit in 2007.
WMU 3C
Area = 316 square miles
BTO = 2.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.9 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3C serves as a transition zone between the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Peaks and has a wide range of deer habitat. As expected, the buck take in 2006 was still below the BTO due to the antler restrictions in place for the unit. However, the 2006 take rebounded slightly from the 2005 take of 0.9 per square mile with a greater proportion of adult bucks (2.5+ years old) in the population. Expect the buck take to climb slightly higher in 2007 but due to the antler restriction, buck take will likely still be below the objective of 2.7 bucks per square mile. Other indicators suggest that the deer population in WMU 3C is growing, and antlerless harvest must be increased to avoid overabundance of deer. Accordingly, there will be an increase in DMP availability for the 2007 season. Chances of being selected for a 1st choice DMP are high for resident and non-resident applicants. Few 2nd choice DMPs will be available for residents, but no 2nd permits will be offered to non-residents. The antler restriction program will remain in effect for 2007.
WMU 3F
Area = 332 square miles
BTO = 2.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 5.0 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3F is located in the Hudson Valley on the eastern shore of the Hudson River and has limited agricultural production. The unit is characterized as having mineral rich soils and is capable of producing lush vegetation for browse. Growing suburban communities and a lack of hunting on properties along the river allow some deer herds to grow in localized settings. The deer herds in hunted areas, however, have been right around our BTO over the last 2 seasons. There will be a slight increase in DMPs in 2007 with chances high for residents to obtain 1st permits. Buck take is anticipated to remain around the objective for 2007 with little noticeable affect on herds from the late winter storms.
WMU 3G
Area = 457 square miles
BTO = 4.1 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.4 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3G is located in the northeastern corner of the region and is bordered by Connecticut to the east. This unit is characterized by rolling hills and valleys with good soils capable of growing suitable deer browse. The buck take in WMU 3G has been declining since 2001 due to high harvest rates of adult female deer, begun initially due to the large deer populations of the late 1990s through 2000. Antlerless harvest was dramatically reduced in 2006 and will be kept low in 2007 to allow for population growth in WMU 3G over the next few years. For the coming season, expect a buck take similar or slightly lower than in 2006. The number of DMPs issued will be similar to last year with only medium odds for resident applicants receiving a 1st permit. No DMPs will be available for non-residents.
WMU 3H
Area = 554 square miles
BTO = 4.2 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 2.9 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3H is located in the southwestern corner of the region. The majority of this unit is forested and some logging still occurs, primarily on private properties. Soils in this area are shallow, rocky, and mineral deficient. The majority of the land holdings are large clubs and family homes. Some agricultural activity occurs on a relatively small scale. The deer population in 3H had declined through 2004, but several indicators point to a growing population. In 2006, WMU 3H was added to the pilot antler restriction program that also encompasses WMUs 3C, 3J, and 3K. As a result, the 2006 buck take of 1.6 bucks per square mile reflects the expected drop in buck harvest during the first year with antler restrictions. However, reduced antlerless harvests in the recent past, combined with increased survival of yearling bucks due to the antler restriction should lead to an increase in the buck take and the overall deer herd for this unit in 2007. Few DMPs will be issued this season to continue population growth, with permits being available only to residents with preference points, landowners, and disabled veterans. Antler restrictions remain in effect for 2007.
WMU 3J
Area = 356 square miles
BTO = 3.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.0 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.7 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3J is located in the Hudson Valley on the western shore of the Hudson River and is comprised of agricultural lands with increasing housing development. This unit has rich mineral soils and is capable of producing lush vegetation for deer browse. The buck take in 2006 showed an increase from 2005 as was expected during the 2nd season of antler restrictions due to greater survival of yearling bucks through the 2005 hunting season. For the 2007 season, expect the buck take to increase even more as the population as a whole grows and the adult buck population responds to 2 years of antler restrictions. The number of DMPs for this unit will be increased from last year with chances high for residents and non-residents to obtain 1st permits. Few 2nd permits will be available to resident applicants. Antler restrictions remain in effect for 2007.
WMU 3K
Area = 381 square miles
BTO = 3.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 1.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 3.0 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3K is located in the southwestern corner of the region. The majority of this unit is forested and some logging still occurs in this unit, primarily on private properties. Some small scale agriculture occurs in this unit as well. Soils in this area are some of the poorest in the state, being shallow, rocky and mineral deficient. Accordingly, deer in this unit have some of the smallest antler development and body weights among the southern zone units. The buck take had declined since 2002, largely as a result of the winters of 2002-2004.
In 2006, WMU 3K was added to the pilot antler restriction program that also encompasses WMUs 3C, 3H, and 3J. As a result, the 2006 buck take of 1.7 bucks per square mile reflects the expected drop in buck harvest due to the limited take of yearling bucks. With the restricted take of yearling bucks last season, expect the buck take to increase slightly in 2007 as these deer are now 2.5 years old and predominantly available for harvest. In addition, minimal harvest of adult female deer in 2005 and 2006 should allow the population as a whole to rebound slightly from its recent lows. There will be a slight increase in DMPs this season. However, DMP availability will be low enough to allow the deer population to rebound further in the near future. DMPs will only be available to residents with preference points, landowners, and disabled veterans.
WMU 3M
Area = 749 square miles
BTO = 3.3 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 3.8 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 7.75 deer harvested per square mile
This unit is located on the southern edge of the region and is primarily within Orange County. This unit has mineral rich soils and is capable of producing lush vegetation for browse. Hunter access is an ever increasing problem in this unit as much of land has been converted into single family homes, housing developments, and strip malls. The 2006 buck take surpassed our management objective for this unit, and the 2007 buck take is expected to increase even further. To prevent marked over abundance of deer in this unit, 1st and 2nd choice DMPs will be readily available to both residents and non-residents. An abundant deer population should provide ample opportunities for hunting success this season.
WMU 3N
Area = 223 square miles
BTO = 2.7 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.9 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3N is located in the southeastern portion of the region, primarily within Putnam County. This unit is characterized by hills and valleys with good quality soils for growing adequate vegetation for deer browse. Land-use patterns have predominantly changed from farming to housing developments, strip malls, and single family homes. Hunter access is limited, except for private property and lands owned by DEC and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Intentionally high harvests of antlerless deer in recent years have brought the deer population down from above objective levels to slightly below objective in 2006. Management in this unit will be directed toward slight population growth and stability near objective. However, expect a slight decline in the 2007 buck take before this happens. To allow for population growth, DMP availability in 2007 will remain similar to 2006 with 1st permits available to resident applicants only.
WMU 3P
Area = 125 square miles
BTO = 2.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Buck Take = 2.5 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.2 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3P is located in the southern portion of the region bordering New Jersey, and is characterized as mountainous with steep slopes and valleys with maturing forests. This relatively small WMU consists primarily of West Point (United States Military Academy) lands and Black Rock Forest, and most of the hunter harvest originates from these two areas. Both have well established hunting programs. In 2006, a buck take right at the BTO was achieved, indicating a slight population increase from 2005. We expect the buck take to remain fairly stable or possibly increase slightly in 2007. There will also be a slight increase in DMPs available for residents.
WMU 3R
Area = 206 square miles
BTO = None set
2006 Buck Take = 0.6 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 1.5 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3R is in the southern portion of the region, primarily within Rockland County. The Ramapo Mountains comprise about 30% of this unit on its western side and heavy development comprises the rest. There is very little habitat management occurring here that would be conducive to big game. The buck take has consistently fluctuated around 0.6-0.8 bucks per square mile over the past decade. There is no BTO set for this unit due to the poor habitat conditions, heavy urbanization and severe limitations of hunter access. Expect the buck take in this unit to be similar to previous years. DMPs for WMU 3R will be readily available for 1st and 2nd permits for both residents and non-residents.
WMU 3S
Area = 431 square miles
BTO = None set
2006 Buck Take = 1.4 bucks harvested per square mile
2006 Total Deer Take = 4.01 deer harvested per square mile
WMU 3S encompasses Westchester County only, and deer hunting is restricted to bowhunting equipment only. This unit is characterized as hills and valleys with good quality soils and very little agricultural and forestry activities occurring. Similar to WMU 3R, access for hunters is mainly limited to private properties. The majority of the land has been developed into single family homes, strip malls, and large private land holdings. Traditionally, these large land holdings have been off limits to hunters, however, some have begun allowing hunting on their properties as deer populations have increased and negative impacts have occurred. Soil conditions, limited agriculture, and suburbia contribute to high deer densities in this unit. Past buck takes have fluctuated between 1.0 - 1.6 bucks per square mile since the late 1980s, with the 2006 buck take falling right in that range. DMPs for WMU 3S will be readily available for 1st and 2nd permits for both residents and non-residents. Bonus Permits will also be available to hunters who successfully harvest an antlerless deer on a DMP. Deer hunting season in WMU 3S does not follow the rest of the Southern Zone but runs from October 13 to December 31, 2007.
