Action Alerts From Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW)


COMMENTS NEEDED!  "NYS Wants Hunters to Kill More Does to Reduce Deer Population, Proposes Changes to Regulations" - Syracuse Outdoors

From: Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW)
March 25, 2026

NOTE: Animal Defenders of Westchester and other AR groups, met with DEC's Director of Game Mgmt Jeremy Hurst in June; another mtg will be scheduled shortly. THE POINT OF STATE WILDLIFE AGENCIES IS TO ENSURE THERE ARE ENOUGH WILD ANIMALS SO AS TO PRODUCE A SURPLUS FOR HUNTERS: This link is a statement from the head of the NYSDEC Conservation Fund Advisory Board (CFAB) regarding the 'executive budget' and begging the NYS Legislature to increase hunting opportunities - to keep the CFAB funding going and complaining about dwindling interest in hunting (Non-hunters are banned from serving on this board).

https://www.nysenate.gov/sites/default/files/articles/attachments/nys_conservation_fund_advisory_board.pdf

THE NYSDEC IS ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS THRU MAY 17. Pls send polite but strong comments to [email protected] (subject: “Antlerless Deer Hunting”) or to: NYSDEC, Attn: Jeremy Hurst, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754.

(ARTICLE BELOW; Letters to the Editor: [email protected] 250 wds or less)

https://www.syracuse.com/outdoors/2026/03/ny-state-wants-hunters-to-kill-more-does-to-reduce-deer-population-proposes-changes-to-regulations.html

NY State wants hunters to kill more does to reduce deer population, proposes changes to regulations

From Steve Featherstone, Syracuse.com
March 20, 2026

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recently announced several proposed regulation changes designed to get hunters to kill more doe or antlerless deer.

The goal, DEC said in a press release, is to help the agency better 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.”

“Deer populations are growing throughout much of New York State,” DEC Commissioner Lefton said. “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.”

During recent hunting seasons, less than 15% of licensed hunters killed one antlerless (primarily female) deer and only about 3% of hunters harvested two or more antlerless deer. The proposed regulations are intended to encourage hunters to harvest more antlerless deer to help better manage deer populations, DEC said.

Over the past few years, DEC has evaluated various options to increase the doe harvest, including focus groups, a statewide survey of deer hunters, and input from professional deer biologists and managers across the Northeast.

Based on that evaluation, DEC proposes several actions.

Increase availability of Deer Management Permits

Some Wildlife Management Units have unlimited DMP availability. The new regulations would create a second pathway for DMP issuance in units without a quota, allowing hunters to simultaneously apply for two permits in WMUs without a quota, and two permits in WMUs with a quota through the typical lottery process.

Hunters could potentially get up to four DMPs, and all hunters who apply for DMPs in units without a quota would receive them.

Additionally, hunters who harvest and report antlerless deer using DMPs in any of the WMUs without a quota would automatically receive bonus DMPs, allowing them to continue harvesting antlerless deer.

Currently, WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J, and 8C have no DMP quota. The proposed regulation would allow DEC to add and remove WMUs to the list of units without a DMP quota as population management needs change.

For 2026, DEC would add 19 WMUs (3M, 3P, 3R, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G) to the list of those with no DMP quota.

Allow unlimited DMP transfers between hunters

Under current regulations, hunters can only have two DMPs transferred to them from other hunters. The proposed regulations would allow hunters to have an unlimited number of DMPs transferred to them from other hunters.

Expand the nine-day season for antlerless deer in mid-September

Currently, WMUs 1C, 3S, 3M, 3R, 4J, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8J, 8N, 9A, and 9F have a nine-day season for antlerless deer in mid-September. The proposed regulations would add 10 more WMUs (3P, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8H, 8R, 8S, and 9G) to the list the existing list.

Establish an “Earn-a-2-Buck” System

Currently, deer hunters can kill two bucks per year: one using their Bow/Muzzleloader Either-Sex Tag, and a second one using their Regular Season Deer Tag.

The proposed regulations would require hunters to kill an antlerless deer before getting a tag to kill a second buck. To make this work, DEC proposes to reclassify the current Regular Season Deer Tag as an “Antlered Deer Tag” that could be used during all deer seasons with appropriate license privileges. All hunters would receive this first Antlered Deer Tag when buying a hunting license.

In addition, as part of the “earn-a-2nd-buck” system, DEC would reclassify the Bow/Muzzleloader Either-Sex Deer Tag as a Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag. Hunters who buy bowhunting and muzzleloader privileges would get a Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag for each privilege.

Hunters who kill an antlerless deer on any eligible antlerless deer tag (i.e., Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag, DMP, or Deer Management Assistance Program Tag) will get a second Antlered Deer Tag which could be used during all deer seasons with appropriate license privileges.

Broadhead proposal

DEC proposes a minor change to clarify how mechanical broadheads with moving blades may be deemed non-barbed to comply with the ban on barbed broadheads for big game hunting.

Broadheads with blades that appear barbed, but freely swing forward to a non-barbed position upon withdrawal of the arrow, are not considered barbed. This regulation would clarify that “freely swing” infers no external force beyond gravity.

Deer population management

The total number of antlerless deer is the main driver of overall deer population growth, DEC stated. The agency’s aim in encouraging more hunters to kill antlerless deer is in line with managing deer populations at levels that are in balance with available habitat and in alignment with public desires.

Details of the proposed regulations, including a FAQ, are available on DEC’s website.

DEC is accepting comments on the proposed regulations through May 17. Comments can be submitted to [email protected] (subject: “Antlerless Deer Hunting”) or to: NYSDEC, Attn: Jeremy Hurst, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754.

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