Hunting and Trapping Newsletter
Deer & Bear Harvest Update
Through the third weekend of the Southern Zone regular big game season, hunters reported 69,550 deer in 2017 compared to 61,184 through the same period in 2016. For the Northern Zone, hunters have reported 11,349 deer in 2017 compared to 9,417 deer in 2016.
Hunters have reported taking 814 bears so far in the Southern Zone compared to 775 taken at this point in 2016. Harvest is lagging in the Northern Zone with only 291 bears reported in 2017 compared to 450 bears at this point in 2016.
DEC relies on hunters to Take It – Tag It – Report It.
Late Season Deer Hunting – Don’t Stop Passing Young Bucks Now
Late bow and muzzleloader season is underway in portions of the Northern Zone and will begin in the Southern Zone on December 11. Hunters often relish these late season hunting opportunities when bucks are in their post-rut feeding routine and the likelihood of snow brings the exciting chance to track deer through their haunts. Many hunters are choosing to pass up young, small-antlered bucks, knowing those bucks will likely be available next year with more meat and larger antlers. Keep in mind that every late season deer hunter has at least one tag for antlerless deer. Either-sex and antlerless-only Bow/Muzz tags and unfilled regular season tags can also be used for antlerless deer during the late seasons. Your choice makes a difference! Please see our NYSDEC Press Releases pages for more information on the Late Bow and Muzzleloader Seasons.
DEC Reminds Hunters of CWD Risk
On the first day of the Pennsylvania firearm season, NYS DEC Region 4 Environmental Conservation Officers confiscated four deer that hunters had brought into New York illegally. These incidents were violations of regulations designed to protect New York’s deer from potential introduction of Chronic Waste Disease (CWD).
When hunters don’t follow these important rules, they put New York State’s entire deer herd at risk. Remember, it is illegal to bring deer, elk, or moose carcasses harvested in many other states into New York. Only specific allowed parts may be brought into New York. People who shoot confined deer, elk, or moose in a fenced facility anywhere outside New York State must remove all prohibited parts from the carcass prior to returning. See CWD Regulations for Hunters for details. Please report all violations (1-844-DEC-ECOS, 1-844-332-3267) and protect our wild deer and moose.
