CurveBow's Link
"Hello, The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has issued the following press release:
DEC: 2013 Deer Harvest Comparable to Last Year Hunters harvested approximately 243,550 deer during the 2013-14 hunting seasons, nearly equivalent to the statewide take last year, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.
"Governor Cuomo's NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative offers many hunting opportunities statewide for sportsmen and sportswomen for the growing population of deer," said Commission Martens. "Throughout the state, hunters play an essential role by helping to maintain healthy and ecologically sound deer populations."
The 2013 deer take included approximately 128,850 antlerless deer (adult females and fawns) and about 114,700 adult bucks (1.5 years or older), both estimates being within 4 percent of the 2012 take (see table below). Hunters in the Northern Zone walked out of the woods with roughly 32,300 deer, including 19,500 adult bucks. In the Southern Zone, excluding Long Island, hunters took 208,300 deer, including about 94,200 adult bucks. To compare these harvest estimates with other past seasons, visit the DEC website.
2013 Deer Harvest Comparison 2013 Total 2012 Total Previous 5-Year Average (2008-2012) Total Take 243,567 242,957 229,439 Adult Male 114,716 118,993 108,752 Antlerless 128,851 123,964 120,687 Adult Female 88,634 86,644 83,565 Deer Management Permits Issued 650,472 605,105 544,530 Deer Management Permit Take 98,945 94,367 89,507 Deer Management Assistance Program Take 12,285 10,497 10,689 Muzzleloader 14,970 16,104 17,511 Bowhunting 36,676 36,208 34,795 Crossbow NA 438 Youth Hunt 1,275 1,411
This year marked New York's second Youth Deer Hunt, held over Columbus Day Weekend. During the Youth Deer Hunt, 14 and 15-year-old junior hunters could take one deer, antlered or antlerless, with a firearm when properly accompanied by a licensed and experienced adult mentor. An estimated 8,860 junior hunters participated in the Youth Deer Hunt, resulting in 1,275 deer taken (728 adult bucks and 547 antlerless deer). A photo gallery showcasing successful junior hunters is on the DEC website.
More Antlerless Deer Need to be Taken This year's harvest shows a continuing trend of concern to DEC deer managers. In many Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), including portions of southeastern New York and the Lake Plains region of western New York, harvest trends indicate that deer populations are too high - above levels recommended by local stakeholder groups who live, hunt or manage land in those areas. Even with very liberal opportunities for take of antlerless deer, not enough females are being taken to reduce populations to desired levels. In these areas, DEC and hunters must begin considering new ways to the increase antlerless deer take to achieve deer populations that are compatible with ecosystem health and consistent with the public's interests.
Older Bucks Becoming a Larger Portion of Adult Buck Harvests Hunters took a record number of bucks (approximately 55,300) aged 2.5 years or older in 2013. These older bucks, which many hunters desire, accounted for 48 percent of harvested adult bucks statewide in 2013, compared to only 33 percent (45,350) in 2000 when New York's deer population peaked, and only 28 percent (about 33,000) in the early 1990s. In part, this is influenced by the overall size of the deer population, which in much of the state is larger than desired. Although mandatory antler restrictions in 11 WMUs in southeastern New York are a contributing factor, many New York hunters outside those areas are voluntarily choosing not to take young bucks, thereby letting these bucks get another year or two older before they are taken.
Deer harvest data are gathered from two main sources: harvest reports required of all successful hunters, and DEC staff's examination of nearly 16,200 harvested deer at check stations and meat processors. Statewide harvest estimates are made by cross-referencing these two data sources. Much additional information about the 2013-14 deer harvests, including charts and maps describing the harvest, is available on DEC's website.
Governor Cuomo's NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and sportswomen and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This initiative includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, and improving access for fishing and increasing hunting opportunities in New York State.
In support of this initiative, this year's budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas. In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state's fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.
This year's budget also reduces short-term fishing licenses fees; increases the number of authorized statewide free fishing days to eight from two; authorizes DEC to offer 10 days of promotional prices for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; and authorizes free Adventure Plates for new lifetime license holders, discounted Adventure Plates for existing lifetime license holders and regular fee Adventure Plates for annual license holders."
The link will take you to the DEC Press release on their web page and the table is much easier viewed there...
I wonder who the sap was that felt compelled to plaser that jerk's name all over that.
gaffer & rebbie - its a calculated take. It goes something like this: Visit butcher shops, plus check with wardens about the folks they stopped/checked; record all tag numbers; consult call in /web registry to see who reported their KNOWN kills; develop a percentage; use that precentage to back-calculate the number guessed at being killed; then throw in a fudge factor!
Its likely the ebst they can do. A lot of folks that don't report also butcher their own. Its hard to get a number on those kills. Are there dishonest folks out there who are never going to report - yup. Are there well meaning folks who forget to report - yup.
I think that other states do something similar. I have hunted elk in CO and some years I get a phone call about success or lack thereof, other years I do not but they still generate some great LOOKING stats. How accurate, who knows?!
