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For Release: Monday, March 1, 2004

DEC Releases Statistics from 2003 Deer Harvest

Hunters Enjoy Productive Season, Management Efforts Successful

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty today announced harvest results of the 2003 deer hunting seasons. The total deer take in the 2003 season was slightly more than 253,000, and includes more than 107,000 bucks and nearly 146,000 antlerless deer. As anticipated, modest declines in total deer take were recorded in all of the major hunting zones, except for Long Island where a slight increase was noted.

"New York's deer hunters took more than 94,000 adult females in 2003, about 90 percent of the female take objective," Commissioner Crotty said. "Achieving this objective is an important component of DEC's management program to maintain deer populations at desired levels in New York. The role deer hunters play is crucial to our management program's success and we sincerely appreciate their participation."

The 2003 total deer take of 253,000 deer is well above the previous 10-year average total take of 239,000. The 2003 buck take reflects a reduction over the 2002 total of 128,000 and was anticipated after several years of increased harvests. The winter of 2002-2003 saw a return to some of the harsh winter conditions that can occur in New York, especially in the Northern Zone and in portions of the Catskill Region and the Lake Plains. Winter mortality was documented in many areas and the reductions in deer takes in some areas were expected. DEC estimates the total deer population in New York State to be more than 1 million, prior to big game season.

DEC-initiated law changes enacted in 2002 were intended to increase hunter participation and antlerless harvest, and the resulting record deer take of 2002 has also served to lower deer numbers and bring populations closer to desired levels in many areas, especially portions of western New York.

As a result of winter mortality in 2002-03 and lower deer numbers in many Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), DEC issued fewer deer management permits (DMPs) during the 2003 season. The final total of 684,000 DMPs was about 90,000 less than were issued for the 2002 season. DMPs are valid only for the taking of antlerless deer and serve as the cornerstone for statewide deer management efforts.

In New York State, Steuben County had the highest deer take in 2003, with 17,768 deer, including 6,242 bucks, harvested. Cattaraugus County was second, with 15,606 deer, including 5,283 bucks, followed by Allegany County, 14,680 deer, including 5,262 bucks. Chautauqua County (10,628 total, 3,925 bucks) and St. Lawrence County (9,070 total, 4,516 bucks) rounded out the top five counties in the State.

A key part of the overall deer program is the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) which offers site-specific relief for farmers and others suffering from deer damage. The DMAP program has been in existence since 1999 and after five years of growth, the program has begun to stabilize with more than 12,000 deer taken again by hunters from approximately 2,200 problem areas during the past season.

Deer populations vary considerably throughout New York, and approximately one-quarter of the current WMUs have deer populations that are within 10 percent of desired levels. About one-third of the units have populations above desired levels, and the remainder of the areas, about 40 percent, have lower than desired populations. The goal of DEC's deer management program is to maintain deer numbers at levels that meet local interests and habitat conditions, while also providing quality hunting opportunities for New York's 650,000 deer hunters who go afield each fall in New York in pursuit of the white-tailed deer. Opportunities to participate in deer hunting activities are many and include a multiple seasons, spanning several months duration. Complete information about New York's deer management program and hunting opportunities is available on DEC's website.

For more than a decade, DEC has utilized local citizen task forces to establish deer population objectives for most WMUs. The task forces represent a broad range of public interests and consider concerns of farmers, foresters, conservationists, landowners and hunters. Each WMU's desired deer population level is expressed as a Buck Take Objective (BTO) and reflects the approximate buck take per square mile that would be taken when the deer population is close to the desired level.

Weather conditions this winter will be carefully assessed by DEC because consecutive years of winter kill can have longer reaching effects on deer numbers, especially in some of the more critical areas in the Adirondacks and the Catskills. Deer populations have been more closely aligned with desired levels in other areas, and the reduced deer take in the 2003 season reflects well on the continued success of New York's deer hunters as the most effective tool for managing deer numbers on a landscape scale. Opening day in the Southern Zone will be Monday, November 22, 2004.

The accompanying charts and tables provide details on New York's 2003 deer harvest.

* 2003 buck take is 10% or more above the objective..........25 WMUs (34%)

** 2003 buck take is within 10%. of the bjective..................19 WMUs (26%)

*** 2003 buck take is 10% or more below the objective..........30 WMUs (40%)

No mark Buck take objective is not established or unit not open...19 WMUs

The Buck Take Objective for a Wildlife Management Unit represents the desired number of antlered bucks harvested annually per square mile. Buck take objectives are based upon recommendations made by Citizen Task Forces in each WMU. On average, hunters take a consistent percentage of the adult bucks available each year. DEC biologists use buck takes as an index of the success in reaching and maintaining deer populations at the recommended levels within each WMU.

CALCULATED DEER TAKE BY COUNTY 2002 - 2003

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