NY changes hunting rules to shrink deer herds, reduce foliage loss

ALBANY – Hunters can't keep up with New York's booming deer population. So the state is making it easier to hunt more of them. 

New York recently overhauled its deer hunting rules after wildlife managers concluded hunters aren't taking enough antlerless deer, primarily does, to keep growing herds in check. 

The changes adopted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, which took effect last week, are designed to boost the harvest of does, which it says drives future herd growth. 

Deer populations have ballooned in many areas of the state, which has created a multitude of issues that harm habitat. They eat leaves, buds, shoots and twigs of woody trees and shrubs, reducing the natural growth under tree canopies. That enables invasive plants to thrive and hinders seedlings from becoming the next generation of trees. 

Dense deer populations also cause public safety issues in urban and suburban communities. New York records more than 70,000 deer-vehicle collisions a year.

The new regulations include an "earn-a-2nd-buck" program, which allows hunters to qualify for a second antlered deer after harvesting a doe first. A state survey of Northeast deer biologists found this program would likely increase antlerless harvest more than nearly every other option proposed.

Hunters can also transfer an unlimited number of deer management permits to others. That's the lottery-issued tag that allows hunters to take game. 

The state expanded unlimited permits to 19 additional areas in the Hudson Valley and central and western New York. 

New York was restrictive with doe-tagging before the changes. Hunters generally could receive up to two permits through the typical lottery process, and only four wildlife management areas had unlimited permits. 

By comparison, Pennsylvania guarantees resident hunters an antlerless license in wildlife management areas during the first round if they purchase by the deadline. There, some hunters can end up with up to 15 antlerless licenses. 

Last year, New York hunters harvested an estimated 106,123 antlerless deer, which state environmental officials said was up 5% from the previous year. 

That increase was a result of expanded crossbow hunting opportunities that season, state officials said. However, the take throughout much of the Empire State was still below what was necessary to keep populations in balance. 

In March, when state environmental officials announced the changes, they said less than 15% of licensed hunters harvested one antlerless deer, and only about 3% took two or more antlerless deer. 

The new regulations drew over 1,000 public comments. Supporters told the state the changes would make it easier for willing hunters to help manage deer populations. 

Opponents raised concerns that the changes could lead to overharvesting, while others said hunters already receive enough tags. Other comments included concerns that early September hunting season could orphan fawns and that allowing hunters to harvest two bucks could reduce the number of older bucks in the population. 

State environmental officials rejected those concerns, saying most fawns are already weaned by September and research does not indicate the changes would negatively affect buck age structure.

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