For Release: Wednesday, October 6, 2004

Archery Deer Hunting Opportunities Expanded in Westchester County

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty today announced that archery hunting season in Westchester County (Wildlife Management Unit 3S) will be extended by two weeks. Under new regulations adopted by DEC and officially filed with the Department of State (DOS), the archery hunting season will begin a full two weeks earlier than previous deer hunting seasons. The opening date will be October 15, which is consistent with archery seasons elsewhere in the upstate portion of the Southern Zone. The 2004 season in Westchester County will run through Friday, December 31, 2004.

"Expanding the season offers hunters more hunting opportunities at a time when conditions are more favorable and an increase in deer take is likely," Commissioner Crotty said. "Deer hunters in Westchester County are limited to using longbows for taking deer because of the amount of development and the proximity of homes to wildlife areas in this beautiful county. Archery hunting in developed areas like Westchester County has proven to be an effective means of safely controlling deer numbers."

Westchester County has a long history of deer overabundance. Innovations like the bonus deer management permits for taking antlerless deer were specifically designed for areas like Westchester County. In the most recent hunting season, archery hunting removed 1,633 deer, including more than 669 adult females from the county. Deer harvests of this magnitude have reduced many of the negative impacts that Westchester County residents have endured as a result of overabundant deer.

Hunters are advised that the schedule of operation for the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 3S Bonus Permit Check Station in Yorktown Heights has been expanded to accommodate the season change. The check station will be open on the following additional days and times:

Wednesday, October 20 - 3 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 23 - 3 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 30 - 3 to 7 p.m.

A complete check station schedule and a comprehensive unit-by-unit forecast of deer hunting prospects for the upcoming season is available on DEC's website.

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