THE NEW YORK DEER

Learn about the diversity of the New York deer and hunting oppurtunities

This map is the courtesy of "DEVO" - he has a great page and the link to his New York information (and others) is linked here.


Southern Tier Hunting The southern tier consists of the areas other than white on the deer density map above. In suburban area's the deer are thriving. There are no natural predators in the suburbs. In the agricultural areas coyotes are present but I feel that the impact on the deer herd is minimal. I have spent a ton of time in the woods, been in places where the coyote sign is more prevalent than deer sign and have yet to see a carcass of a deer that was taken down by a coyote. Feed is plentiful (naturally and ornamental shrubs). There is significantly less snow cover for long periods of time. There are few dense wooded areas ( other than the Catskill Mountains where rifles are allowed). The season starts later in the south. Bow opens October 15 (either sex); gun (shot gun only) opens on the third Monday of November. A deer with an antler 3 inches or greater is legal. Antlerless permits (finite number per unit) are issued based on the DMU. In some DMU's 2 hunters must apply for a permit that allows for one antlerless deer. The Department of Environmental Coservation (DEC) analyzes the data collected in each DMU regarding the present deer population and issues permits based on the need in that DMU to reduce the deer herd. In many instances there are "second" permits available and the DEC encourages applicants to put in for those permits. In recent years the permits have been readily available in most areas but when populations are down ( as in 1994 because of the blizzards in March 1993 causing severe winter kills) there are less permits available and many applicants are rejected. Those rejected receive preference points for the following year. The gun season ends on the third Tuesday after the season opens. For 10 days after the gun season there is the muzzleloader season and the first 7 of those there is the late bow season ( antlerless deer can only be shot if you have a permit for that zone). Hunting in the southern zone is very different than up north. Trails are very pronounced, food sources are very easy to find (mailnly corn, alfalpha, apples, pears, grass, etc.), and cover is scarce. The deer tend to stay put unless you step on them, escape routes are very predictable. The size of the deer are generally smaller than the northern deer because they do not get very old. I have hunted up north with people that have said "I can't believe the size of your doe up here" . that's because the larger deer survive and very few doe are taken by hunters. The deer in the south (in particular does) are much smaller in the south simply because the average age is 1 1/2 years. I have brought experienced hunters to my camp and they are amazed at the size of some of the adult doe (minimal doe take during special seasons). I also know many people who hunt for "bucks only". In fact there are numerous areas where "NO DOE" signs are posted. This defeats the purpose of the DEC objectives to deer management. In past years you could take bucks or doe with your DMU permit. So many people held on to them for bucks that they recently implemented the "antlerless" only tag. I know people who apply for the permits just to prevent hunters who do take doe from getting one. I strongly oppose that position. Hunting in the south is fun, there are more deer, more chances at being successful, and that means more idiots shooting at brown shadows! There are numerous public lands in the south (and north) that are available for hunting. My experience finds that if you're within a mile of the road you will be surrounded by other hunters. I use other hunters to move the deer to me. I only hunt on private lands now because of those "shadow shooters".