New York State DEC announces proposed shake up of deer hunting regulations aimed at increasing deer harvests

The New York State DEC has proposed several regulation adjustments that could very well shake up future hunting seasons, if enacted.

The goal, according to DEC officials, is to ultimately increase harvests of antlerless deer by hunters.

These proposed actions will improve DEC’s ability to manage deer populations to help ensure a healthy herd while also preventing potential increases in deer-vehicle collisions, reduced forest regeneration, and other negative impacts of deer overabundance, DEC said in a released statement.

“Increased harvest of antlerless deer by hunters is necessary to keep deer populations healthy, in balance with available habitat, and at levels that are acceptable to all members of the public,” Commissioner Amanda Lefton emphasized.

Highlights include modifying the Deer Management Permit issuance process to increase DMP availability; allowing an unlimited number of DMP’s to be transferred between hunters; expanding the nine-day season for antlerless deer in mid-September; establishing an “Earn-a-2nd-Buck” system and a clarification on how mechanical broad-heads with moving blades may be deemed non-barbed to comply with the statutory prohibition on use of barbed broad-heads for big game hunting.

Check out the New York State DEC's website for more details and we will reach out to officials for a follow-up on-air segment. 

NYS DEC image.