The state Department of Environmental Conservation has finalized regulation changes to encourage greater harvest of antlerless deer and improve the agency’s ability to manage abundant deer populations in the Southern Tier and elsewhere around New York.
DEC is creating an incentive for hunters to harvest antlerless deer by establishing a statewide Earn-a-2nd-Buck system.
Under the new system, all hunters will receive a first antlered deer tag which can be used during any season (with appropriate privileges) except the September antlerless season.
Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer using a deer management permit (DMP), bow/muzzleloader antlerless deer tag, or deer management assistance program tag will be eligible to receive a second antlered deer tag, which can also be used during those same seasons.
“Deer populations are growing across much of New York and, in many areas, are increasing to levels that are detrimental to deer, their habitat, and the public,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “These regulatory changes are a result of robust public engagement and reflect DEC’s continued commitment to conservation.”
Regulation changes include:
Adding 10 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs; 3P, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8H, 8R, 8S, and 9G) to the nine-day season for antlerless deer in mid-September.
Designating 23 WMUs as having no DMP quota. Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer using a DMP in a WMU with no DMP quota would be eligible to have the DMP automatically replaced. For 2026, WMUs 1C, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4J, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G will have no DMP quota.
Modifying the DMP application process by allowing hunters to apply for up to 4 DMPs: 2 in WMUs with a quota and 2 DMPs in WMUs with no quota.
Allowing unlimited transfer of DMPs among hunters.
New state regulations will encourage a bigger harvest of antlerless deer in New York state, including an Earn-a-2nd-Buck system.
To facilitate the new system, DEC is reclassifying the former regular season deer tag as an antlered deer tag and the former bow/muzzleloader either sex deer tag as a bow/muzzleloader antlerless deer tag. Hunters who purchase bowhunting and muzzleloading privileges would receive a bow/muzzleloader antlerless deer tag for each privilege.
During recent hunting seasons, less than 15% of licensed hunters harvested one antlerless (primarily female) deer and only about 3% of hunters harvested two or more antlerless deer, DEC reported.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: New York state changes deer hunting regulations to increase harvest