Massive Deer Hunting Changes Coming To New York?

New York officials have proposed numerous regulation changes that would modernize hunting practices across the state.

Hunting is one of the most popular outdoor activities that thousands of New Yorkers enjoy participating in every year. The odds say that almost all of us have someone we know who spends some time in the woods trying to harvest some form of wildlife.

Deer Hunting in New York

If you hunt, you're well aware that there are rules and regulations you need to follow to legally harvest a deer during deer season. Hunters are only allowed to hunt during that year's specific season (rifle, bow, etc.), and they must have a valid license to hunt. If a hunter is lucky enough to harvest a deer, they are required to properly record each harvest by filling out a physical paper tag, which includes details like date, time, and sometimes location of the kill.

Once it's completed, New York requires that the tag be attached to the animal's carcass. This process has been the same for many years, but now it appears that state officials would like to modernize tags and bring hunting into the 21st century.

New Hunting Regulations in New York

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced that it would like to "modernize" hunting practices and improve deer management across the state, according to WGRZ. The new rules would change the way hunting tags are used and would create more opportunities for young hunters and landowners.

SEE ALSO: Advanced Nuclear Power Plant Coming to Upstate New York

The proposed changes would include giving hunters a choice of using paper tags or new electronic tags through the HuntFishNY mobile app. The DEC explained how the electronic tags would work, saying, "Electronic harvest reports would be submitted immediately after taking a deer, bear, or turkey, serving as a digital 'tag' on the carcass".

Once the harvest is submitted, hunters would receive a confirmation number, eliminating the need for a physical tag.

A physical tag would still be needed if a carcass is left unattended, or if it's sent to a taxidermist or a processor. Hunters who choose to use a paper tag would be required to report each harvest within 48 hours.

Young Hunters in NY

The new regulations would also allow young hunters who harvest a deer during the Youth Big Game Hunt weekend to receive a replacement regular-season tag so they can continue to hunt. The DEC explained, saying,

"Youth hunters who do not already hold a Deer Management Permit would be eligible for a replacement tag for the regular firearms season — an antlerless-only tag if an antlered deer was harvested during the youth hunt, and vice versa."

 

If you are a hunter and would like to comment on the proposed changes, the DEC is accepting public comments through August 18th. They can be sent by email to wildliferegs@dec.ny.gov or mailed to: NYSDEC, Attn: Deer Hunting Regs, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233.