New York Deer News
 Public Land Deer Hunting: How to Save America's Whitetail Woods May 16, 2013 New York, Outdoor Life Magazine ... Grant Woods, a renowned deer biologist ... “The unnatural idea that public lands shouldn’t be managed by man is creating deserts for many species of wildlife .. Right now preservationists are stopping logging and prescribed burns to create a static utopia. They imagine forests without man. They think anything we humans do is damaging by definition... ” ... New York’s Adirondack Park ...“There were more deer there in 1960 than there are today, as the forest was at that time growing back and providing a lot of browse for deer.” Hastings Seeks Volunteers for Deer Sterilization Experiment May 14, 2013 New York, Patch.com ... While Hastings-on-Hudson waits to see if the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) will allow them to sterilize local deer with immunocontraception darts—the Village isn't wasting time preparing for its potential experiment... The Village plans to use a dart gun to inject an immuncontraceptive vaccine called porcine zona pellucida (PZP), which is derived from pig ovaries and creates antibodies that surrounds the female’s egg and prevents sperm from attaching. Dr. Allan Rutberg ... is assisting the Village with its study... Hastings Trustees, Expert Meet To Discuss Deer Birth Control May 8, 2013 New York, The Daily Voice ... Deer birth control involves a vaccine called PZP, short for porcine zona pellucida, a pig protein that poses no risk to people, animals or the environment [Dr. Allen Rutberg] ... A deer is shot via dart gun to tranquilize it before the vaccine can be injected. The Environmental Protection Agency requires that the deer be tagged ... Hasting-on-Hudson, Presentation on Hastings Deer Population Control Thursday May 8, 2013 New York, Patch.com ...Those who would like to volunteer for the effort will meet with Tufts professor Dr. Allen Rutberg, who has conducted studies on immunocontraception to control suburban deer populations, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Village Board meeting room/Court room ... Rye, Bow Hunting Plan Tops Rye's News This Week May 5, 2013 New York, The Daily Voice ... The Rye City Council had discussed using a bow hunting program to help deal with the overpopulation of deer in the city. The council has decided not to go ahead with the program due to worries that it would not help the problem or possibly make it worse... Rye Shoots Down Bow Hunting Idea To Deal With Deer May 1, 2013 New York, The Daily Voice ... The city will take a step back and will likely implement a program that involves more research into how large the deer population is and where deer would go, Parker said. One possible solution mention would be a contraceptive program similar to the one similar to the one being used in Hastings-on-Hudson. Rye is looking for partners to share in a flyover program, in which infrared equipment would be used to map deer population ... Rye, Westchester County, Bowhunting Deer Management Plan on Hold in Rye April 30, 2013 New York, Patch.com ... the city council has decided they need more information ... The proposed bow-hunting program being used and advocated by the Westchester Audubon Society for culling deer herds will not be brought forward for Council action as a joint pilot program with the Jay Heritage Center and the Westchester County Marshlands [Mayor French] ... Cayuga Heights Grapples With Deer Overpopulation Problem April 26, 2013 New York, Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun ... In December, the Village of Cayuga Heights sterilized approximately 95 percent of its female deer population ... The original proposal was that the village would sterilize a core population of does and then remove the remaining unsterilized deer at several culling sites through managed hunting. However, [Kate Supron, Mayor] said, it soon became apparent that the plan would not work. “You have to have property owner permission to discharge a weapon within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling,” ... DEC: 2012 Deer Harvest Results Are Up From Last Year April 25, 2013 New York, NYDEC Press Release Hunters harvested approximately 243,000 deer during the 2012-13 hunting seasons, about 6 percent more than were taken the previous year, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. "Deer hunting is a long-standing tradition in New York, providing shared recreation and a valuable source of food for many families," said Commissioner Martens. "Governor Cuomo's NY Open for Hunting and Fishing initiative expands hunting opportunities statewide for sportsmen and sportswomen for the growing population of deer. This past year's deer take reflects these efforts as well as deer population growth throughout much of the state." The 2012 deer take included approximately 124,000 antlerless deer (adult females and fawns) and an estimated 119,000 adult bucks. Increases were most pronounced in the Northern Zone where estimates of total take increased 15 percent from 2011. Estimated adult buck take of about 19,400 increased from 15,900 in 2011 and estimated antlerless take of 11,400 increased from 10,900 in the Northern Zone. In the Southern Zone, excluding Long Island, estimated adult buck take of 98,570 increased 6 percent and antlerless take of 110,900 increased 5 percent from 2011. 2012 Deer Harvest Comparison
Deer hunters enjoyed successful season in 2012 April 24, 2013, New York, Oneida Dispatch ... Overall hunters took 243,000 total deer including regular season, deer management permits, bow season, etc. That figure included approximately 124,000 antlerless deer and 119,000 adult bucks. The average for the previous five year period is 224,675 ... WNY still tops in deer kill per square mile April 23, 2013 New York, The Daily News Online ...Western New York and the Finger Lakes Region perennially lead the state in total deer-harvest densities. The top five counties for 2012 were Yates (16.0 total deer taken per square mile), Wyoming (14.6), Genesee (11.9), Cayuga (11.3), and Ontario County (11.2)... NY Youth Hunt Controversy Finally Laid to Rest April 23, 2013 New York, Outdoor Life Magazine (blog) ... the New York Department of Environmental Conservation held the state’s first youth deer hunt last fall... The hunt was strongly opposed by New York Bowhunters Inc ... The bowhunting group argued that a firearms hunt would disrupt the relative tranquility of their newly expanded bow season and interfere with their ability to hunt “undisturbed” deer... ... Most of the forest in New York State are Even-aged forest. In order to be classified as an Even-aged forest there has to be four different ages of trees or less... The important factor when managing an Even-aged forest is to eventually establish a new even age class of trees... If managing for deer habitat the superior forest, properly managed will provide more bio-mass per acre. Obtaining quality deer habitat through proper forest and deer herd management has been shown to improve the size of deer... Rapid detection of serum antibody by DPP VetTB assay in white-tailed deer infected with Mycobacterium bovis KP Lyashchenko, R Greenwald, J Esfandiari… - Clinical and Vaccine Immunology April, 2013 ... Bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cervids remains a significant problem affecting farmed herds and wild populations. Traditional skin testing has serious limitations ... Recently developed immunochromatographic DPP VetTB assay has two antigen bands, T1 (MPB83 protein) and T2 (CFP10/ESAT-6 fusion protein), for antibody detection. We evaluated diagnostic accuracy of this test ... Present findings demonstrate the relatively high diagnostic accuracy of the DPP VetTB test for white-tailed deer, especially in detecting naturally infected animals. State deer kill rises April 20, 2013 New York, Press & Sun-Bulletin ... The calculated take for 2012-13 season was 242,957, compared to 228,359 in 2011-12. The calculations included 123,964 antlerless deer, compared to 118,357 the previous season. The antlerless kill was fueled by an increase of 71,000 deer management permits... Increase in deer kill in latest hunting season April 20, 2013 New York, Wall Street Journal ... Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens says the state has been taking steps to encourage hunting as the deer population continues to grow... The 2012 deer harvest results are now available April 19, 2013 New York, NYDEC ... Hunters took approximately 243,000 deer (124,000 antlerless deer and 119,000 adult bucks) during the 2012-13 hunting seasons, about 6 percent more than were taken the previous year. Increases were most pronounced in the Northern Zone where total take (30,840) increased 15 percent from 2011. In the Southern Zone, the adult buck take (about 98,570) increased 6 percent and the antlerless take (110,900) increased 5 percent from 2011. The 2012 harvest reflects deer populations that are greater than desired levels in many parts of New York. Increased take of antlerless deer will be necessary in 2013. See www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/90368.html for a summary table of the 2012 deer harvest by zone and tag type, or see www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/2012deerrpt.pdf (3.8 mb, PDF) for a comprehensive report of the harvest. Deer Slaughter Up In NY April 19, 2013 New York, North Country Gazette ... Hunters harvested approximately 243,000 deer during the 2012-13 hunting seasons, about 6 percent more than were taken the previous year ... “Deer hunting is a long-standing tradition in New York, providing shared recreation and a valuable source of food for many families,” said Commissioner Martens... Deer makes friends in town April 18, 2013 New York, Dansville-Genesee Country Express A stray deer made friends with some Dansville residents ... According to Cyndi Herne, the deer was missing fur on its back and was walking with a slanted hind leg... Falconer man pleads innocent in massive deer jacking case April 17, 2013 New York, Evening Observer ... State authorities were tipped off by Jamestown police in November after a dead deer was located next to Bush Elementary School in the city... "It's extremely dangerous to be out there shooting," Samuelson said last week. "The houses are close together up there near the school.... Collectors searching for antlers April 13, 2013 New York, Buffalo News ... Buck deer and other cervid-family members such as moose, elk and caribou drop their antlers sometime in late winter and early spring each year, which generates a food source for many gnawing animals and a hunt opportunity for antler seekers ... “A trophy-sized, farm-raised deer will sell for as much as $250,000 and one breeding cycle could cost $10,000,” ... So most farm-reared deer are not allowed to retain their antlers to the point of dropping... Falconer Man Faces 54 Charges In Deer Jacking Case April 9, 2013 New York, Jamestown Post Journal ... deer jacking - the illegal practice of shooting deer with the use of an artificial light - the investigation unveiled numerous other offenses. "This is the highest number of violations we've had associated with a single deer jacking case within our region," said Frank Lauricella, Division of Law Enforcement Region 9 Police captain... Preliminary Hunt Results, March meeting held for WNYECF at Hoak's March 24, 2013 New York, Evening Observer ... The deer season results for 2012 have not officially been tallied but, from all indications, it would appear that the deer take was up by seven percent from the previous year. The deer take in the Southern Zone may have been as high as nine percent higher due to an increase in deer management permits... the deer take from the DEC-controlled bait-and-shoot sites. Clarence took 200 deer while Amherst had 150, Cheektowaga claimed 131, and Lackawanna recorded 50... Rye Considers Bowhunting Deer Management Plan March 21, 2013 New York, Patch.com ... There are 52 to 55 deer per quarter square mile at the Marshlands Conservancy, the Rye City Council learned from a conservation expert ... Essentially, the program attempts to control the deer population by recruiting and paying experienced bow hunters to kill deer in county-run parks... [A pdf file of the presentation] ... Local biologist comments on area deer harvest increase March 20, 2013 New York, Springvillejournal ... according to the DEC, Western New York’s deer population has always been high... From 1900 – 1911, the Adirondack and Catskills regions adopted their first plan of attack against overpopulation, with the stipulation that “deer of either sex may be hunted, except spotted fawns,” according to the New York State DEC’s, deer management plan... According to the DEC, 10 deer per square mile are all that a “healthy forest” can support. [according to a recent forest service study, at 10 deer per square mile and lower the forest develops too much underbrush, a good range is 15 to 28 deer per square mile, and forests can regenerate at much higher deer density] Cell Transplantation study finds stem cells in deer antler March 19, 2013 New York, EurekAlert (press release) A team of researchers in Seoul, Korea have reported finding evidence that deer antlers - unique in that they regenerate annually - contain multipotent stem cells that could be useful for tissue regeneration in veterinary medicine. The study appears as an early e-publication for the journal Cell Transplantation, and is now freely available on-line athttp://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct/pre-prints/ct0897seo. "We successfully isolated and characterized antler tissue-derived multipotent stem cells and confirmed that the isolated cells are self-renewing and can differentiate into multiple lineages," said study co-author Dr. Kyung-Sun Kang of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Seoul National University. "Using optimized culture conditions, deer antler displayed vigorous cell proliferation." ... Hastings Trustees To Hear Report On Deer Birth Control March 18, 2013 New York, The Daily Voice A report on deer contraception will be presented by Dr. Allen T. Rutberg of Tufts University ... a vaccine called PZP, short for porcine zona pellucida, a pig protein that poses no risk to people ... The deer is shot via dart gun to tranquilize it before the vaccine can be injected. ... Hastings-on-Hudson, Deer contraception plans under way in Hastings-on-Hudson March 18, 2013 New York, Newsday ... birth control for deer. But in Hastings-on-Hudson, it’s the hot topic on the agenda for Tuesday night’s regular board of trustees meeting. Tufts University veterinary expert Allen Rutberg will be making a presentation that details his upcoming plan to dart deer with a contraceptive that can keep the animals from getting pregnant ... State conservation officer honored for catching deer poachers March 12, 2013 New York, CNYcentral.com ... A New York conservation officer is being honored for catching two men who had been shooting deer from inside a house when the animals came to a video-monitored bait pile in the yard, then selling the meat at an annual feast... Deer Hunting in New York City? March 1, 2013 Outdoor Life Magazine ... If Joseph Lhota becomes New York City's next mayor, Big Apple residents might be able to deer hunt on Staten Island (one of the city's five boroughs). The leading republican candidate recently said that if he becomes mayor, he would consider bowhunting ... Deer-hunting? On Staten Island? March 1, 2013 New York, SILive.com ... it's hard to imagine what the usually sensible Mr. Lhota was thinking when, at a campaign event in Annadale earlier this week, he endorsed deer-hunting on Staten Island... Mr. Lhota, who hunts himself, added, "I know a lot of hunters from Staten Island who go upstate to go hunting. They're going to want to say, 'Hey, we can do it here at home.' " Improving Chenango County's Deer February 27, 2013 New York, Chenango Deer Management What is a “Yearling Buck Protection” program? It is setting harvest standards that protect the majority of immature yearling bucks that are 1.5 year old with their first set of antlers from harvest. What is the purpose of a “Yearling Buck Protection” program? The purpose of this proposal is to protect and conserve male deer by protecting the majority from harvest when they are immature 1.5 year olds, the equivalent of a 12 year old boy. This is done by increasing the antler size requirement. Joe Lhota Throws Cold Water on Staten Island Deer Hunt Idea February 27, 2013 New York, New York Magazine ... Lhota got on the phone to set the record straight. "I don’t think it should be done," ... Republican mayoral hopeful Lhota: Look at hunting as way to control deer population on Staten Island February 25, 2013 New York, SILive.com ... Hunt them down. That could be one way to control Staten Island's growing deer population if Republican Joe Lhota becomes mayor... "The next mayor is going to have to figure out how hunting is going to work," said Lhota, who hunts deer upstate... DEC officer will share the wild life of dealing with wildlife February 23, 2013 New York, Buffalo News ... the Erie Canal, where dogs often chased deer into the water... “We were able to get a rope around the deer’s neck, but then it tightened up, and the deer was having difficulty breathing. Another guy that was with me grabbed the deer and gave it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation... that deer came around, and we were able to release it on the other side of the canal.” Amsterdam, Deer caught on fence recovering February 14, 2013 New York, Gloversville Leader-Herald ... The 2-year-old buck's rear, right leg was stuck and cut on spikes in the fence... The deer suffered extensive injuries ... and his leg had to be surgically amputated... the deer is alive and recovering [at Avian Experience] DEC responds to hunter complaints about 'deer management focus area' February 12, 2013 New York, Syracuse.com .... The main issue was lack of access.The area has an over-abundance of deer, according to state Department of Environmental Conservation... "The DEC can only make deer management options like the DMFA available to municipalities, private landowners, and public land managers. However the agency does not have any control over whether or not a property owner/manager chooses to utilize the management option, nor does the agency have the authority to supersede any local ordinances ..." Suffolk Police Save Baby Deer from Frigid Waters February 7, 2013 New York, Wall Street Journal A baby deer was saved from frigid waters near Davis Park Marina in Fire Island Thursday afternoon by Suffolk County Police Department officers ... After docking their boat, Marine Mike, the officers dried off the fawn. “A family of deer came over and started to lick the baby deer and it slowly started to move around,” ... The committee will be charged with studying deer management strategies, including ways to reduce tick populations and Lyme disease and the reduction of the deer herd [deer density not correlated to Lyme]. According to the resolution, they must provide a report to the North Haven Village ... New rules govern hunting of deer, elk February 5, 2013 New York, The Daily News Online ... The DEC has conducted an extensive surveillance program since chronic 2005, when chronic wasting disease was first confirmed in New York. It has not discovered any additional cases since then. New NY law prohibits deer parts from Pennsylvania February 1, 2013 New York, MPNnow.com ... The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has adopted new regulations that prohibit people from importing into New York state certain parts of white-tailed deer or elk taken from Pennsylvania... the new regulation is due to the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease being confirmed in Pennsylvania last fall... Chembio Announces U.S.D.A. Approval of Tests for Detection of Bovine Tuberculosis in Captive Elk and Deer January 29, 2013 New York, Globe Newswire Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. ... announces that its U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed products, CervidTB STAT-PAK® and DPP® VetTB, have been approved as primary and secondary tests for bovine tuberculosis by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in order to provide the farmed deer industry with more options for meeting the testing requirements for captive cervids (elk and deer) within the regulations ... Forest SilvoPasture: A Technique for Livestock, Deer and Other Wildlife January 27, 2013 New York, Corning Leader In the past, the norm was to keep livestock out of the woods ... Silvopasturing maintains a forest structure while allowing enough sunlight to the forest floor to grow grasses and forbs. The concept of Silvopasturing is a method that can be used to benefit livestock and /or wildlife. The structure and plant diversity of silvopastures is attractive to many wildlife species including wild turkey, deer, and many songbirds. Deer Habitat Management: Getting Started January 22, 2013 New York Corning Leader ... In numerous cases the process of improving a particular woodlot cannot start with a commercial cut, so the first phase of work is Timber Stand Improvement. The genetically best species that are preferred by deer and other wildlife will be left for seed production. The Timber Stand Improvement process before a future commercial cut can be conducted should focus on removing; autumn olive, multiflora rose, buckthorn, barberry, prickly ash, hayscented fern, New York fern, hopehornbeam, ironwood, beech and aspen... Three Central New York outdoors enthusiasts snap photos of whitetail deer January 21, 2013 New York, Syracuse.com "Today these three deer were visiting the backyard of my neighbor and mother-in-law ... I'm told that Ivory Snow hung from the trees would discourage them from hanging around. But I think deer are beautiful and an affirmation of life..." Cayuga Heights, Village Takes Action Against Growing Deer Population January 18, 2013 New York, WBNG-TV ... Being a gardener, it upsets her when they jump her six-foot fence for her veggies... That's why the Village of Cayuga Heights sterilized 137 does this December... Sterilization cost ... about $1,000 a doe... Cornell University Wildlife Specialist Paul Curtis said sterilization is a humane way to deal with busting deer populations. "Surgical sterilization is definitely an effective technique," Curtis said... "It's going to take potentially five years or more to see population level effects given deer are long-lived," ... Vassar, Threats to Vassar employees over deer cull investigated January 18, 2013 New York, Poughkeepsie Journal Police are investigating threats to Vassar College employees in response to the recent deer cull, the college confirmed Friday. “The college did receive a threat,” Vassar spokesman Jeff Kosmacher said. “We immediately notified the Town of Poughkeepsie... Several does die in Cayuga Heights sterilization process January 16, 2013 New York, Ithaca Journal The village’s deer population control program removed ovaries from 137 female deer in December ...The procedures sterilized more than 90 percent of the village’s deer population, Cayuga Heights Mayor Kate Supron said. Two does died from attempted captures. One broke its neck in a drop net, and the second fell down a steep hillside after getting shot by a tranquilizer dart ... Another doe died after it was released...The program cost taxpayers $148,315 ... Vassar farm cull ends; 11 deer killed January 15, 2013 New York, Poughkeepsie Journal ... the college decided it had accomplished all it could,” spokesman Jeff Kosmacher ... “I hope there isn't a repeat performance of this and that Vassar seriously looks at alternatives for controlling deer in the future,” said Poughkeepsie resident Doreen Tignanelli, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuits ... Vassar, Neighbors try to block Vassar Farm deer cull January 7, 2013 New York, YNN Hudson Valley ...Unless the state court of appeals rules Monday on behalf of around 50 deer, Vassar College can begin baiting and sharpshooting ... Some neighbors call that stance unbelievable. "Since the population is less than half of what it used to be, how can they say this is a problem?" questioned Svenson [resident]. "All this money they're spending ...They could build a fence for what they pay for this." Celoron Cancels Deer Program, Officials Cite Lack Of Effective Land January 5, 2013 New York, Post Journal ... John Keeney, Celoron mayor, said there aren't enough effective locations in the village to run the state Department of Environmental Conservation program. Celoron officials had to operate the program on land where there is no occupied building within 500 feet or where they had the permission of the property owners inside the regulated area. Lumberland firefighters rescue deer trapped on frozen Delaware River January 5, 2013 New York, Times Herald-Record ... Bosco Hunt Jr. , Ann Steimle and her son James Steimle pulled the doe to safety near the Pond Eddy Bridge. The rescue was the first made using a new airboat the department purchased in August. “It just made my day,” Ann Steimle said. “It was an amazing feeling.” Vassar, Animal rights group appeals NY deer-killing case December 31, 2012 New York, Corning Evening Times A state supreme court judge ruled ... the shooting of 62 deer planned for next month is not subject to more intensive state environmental review ... In Defense of Animals has appealed ... Deer Search: Helping Hunters For Over 30 Years December 30, 2012 New York, WGRZ-TV " Our mission of Deer Search in New York State is to reduce the crippling loss of big game in the state.We do that with tracking deer with dogs , with our license. We also do that by educating hunters. " ... Gary Katta is President of Deer Search WNY... To many hunters and their families, a lost deer can mean a lot. " They count on that to sustain them through the year, or partially sustain them" Vassar College deer-cull appeal considered, Judge tossed lawsuit against Vassar College December 22, 2012 New York, Poughkeepsie Journal State Supreme Court Justice James Brands ruled Friday the shooting of deer planned for next month was not subject to a more intensive examination under the State Environmental Quality Review Act... Expiration of State Law will make use of crossbows unlawful for Big Game Hunting December 21, 2012 New York, DEC The provisions in the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) that allow the use of crossbows for big game hunting, as well as eliminate a permit requirement for hunters with physical disabilities to use special archery equipment during any big game or small game hunting season, will expire on December 31, 2012, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens reminded hunters today. Legislation allowing the use of crossbows during certain big game hunting seasons in September 2010 took effect on February 1, 2011. This allowed licensed hunters to use a crossbow during the 2011 and 2012 big game hunting seasons. The immediate effect of the law expiring is that big game hunters will not be able to use a crossbow during the January 2013 deer hunting season in Suffolk County, or during a special January 2013 deer hunting season established in the designated “Deer Management Focus Area” in Tompkins County. For hunters with physical disabilities who are allowed to use special archery equipment during any big game or small game season, that activity will still be lawful, but they may need to apply once again for a “Modified Archer Permit” from DEC’s Special Licenses Unit in Albany. The expiring legislation had required only a physician’s affirmation of need, instead of a special permit. For information about current crossbow hunting rules in New York and what opportunities will expire, see www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/68802.html. For information about hunter preferences regarding crossbow use, see Appendix 5 of DEC’s Management Plan for White-tailed Deer in New York State 2012-2016 (www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/deerplan2012.pdf ). Hastings-on-Hudson, New York village looks to contraceptive to control deer population December 13, 2012 New York, FOX News ... volunteers will begin gathering preliminary research for the birth control project early next year... The project would be led by Tufts University veterinary expert Allen Rutberg... Deer feeding debate percolates December 13, 2012 New York, Outdoor News ... A Sullivan County court ruling that struck down DEC’s ban on feeding deer has the state hesitant to issue citations for illegally feeding deer anywhere in the state... Some states do allow supplemental feeding during winter, under certain restrictions. Minnesota, for example, allows feeding in most areas of the state, but only during certain times of the year. East Hampton, Criticism, Support for East Hampton Town Deer Management Plan December 12, 2012 New York, The Sag Harbor Express ... Kathy Cunningham, with the Village Preservation Society ... “The deer management program must include a sterilization program ...noting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) mandates contraception is only permitted in conjunction with culling. Local veterinarians ... could work with not-for-profit entities like White Buffalo, Inc., to help rein in the costs of a contraception program. Cunningham asked the board, with the understanding that she has private backers interested in supporting this kind of project, if a pilot sterilization program could become a part of the deer management plan. East Hampton, Deer Management Plan Under Fire December 11, 2012 New York, Patch ... a five-year effort to cull the deer population at first and then find other methods to keep the heard down, didn't garner much support from residents at the meeting. There are those who believe the part of the proposal that calls for killing hundreds of deer is too cruel, while others think the deer population will rebound just as fast as its killed off. Others that spoke out said the plan is too expensive. Organized hunts were estimated at $80,000 to $100,000 ... Vassar, Deer cull foes stage protest near Vassar December 10, 2012 New York, Poughkeepsie Journal More than two dozen people against a plan that would reduce the deer population at Vassar's farm and ecological preserve in Poughkeepsie staged a protest Sunday at the edge of the school's campus... Vassar maintains that an overabundance of deer is preventing a healthy regrowth of the preserve’s plant life and trees ... a deer cull in 2010 that also drew strong protest... Successfully grow your own giant deer with a food plot December 9, 2012 New York, Metrowny.com ... While NYS law Part 189 of Title 6 makes it illegal to feed deer with food attractants, such as apples, corn or anything that is not alive or comes in a bag, the law does allow agricultural crops, including wildlife food plots ... Gray used a mix of turnips, buckwheat, clover and brassica, in his plot... East Hampton deer-control plan draws criticism December 9, 2012 Connecticut, Newsday The 30-page plan [link to plan on the town website] ... calls for a five-year effort leading to a sharp reduction in deer, initially by killing hundreds and then by finding other methods to control the population... Some insisted a survey and scientific evaluation of the deer herd be done before any action is taken; others said something has to be done immediately to reduce the deer population, and the auto accidents and property destruction they cause. "This plan is flawed and unethical," said Ellen Crain of the East Hampton Group for Wildlife, urging that it not be adopted... East Hampton Town Residents Sound Off On Deer Plan December 7, 2012 Connecticut, 27east.com ... The effort, which is being led by Councilman Dominick Stanzione, is designed to address what many feel is an unhealthy explosion in the town’s deer population. They claim it has led to increases in car-deer accidents and spikes in cases of tick-borne illnesses [deer density not correlated with Lyme]. The deer population has also been blamed for overbrowsing forest understory... Vassar - City, DEC sued over Vassar deer cull December 8, 2012 Poughkeepsie Journal ... A lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court this week claims Vassar’s plan to kill deer using sharpshooters should be subject to review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. The suit lists California-based nonprofit animal rights group In Defense of Animals and two Poughkeepsie residents, Marcy Schwartz and Doreen Tignanelli, as plaintiffs ... Niagara County deer seen fleeing to Canada December 8, 2012 New York, Niagara Frontier Publications Whitetail deer are pretty smart critters and seem to know just when hunting season begins; they make themselves scarce immediately ... Don Supon reported watching a whitetail deer parting the United States heading toward Canada one morning, and he assumed it had no passport or other identifiable papers in its possession ... Big-game season wraps up in Northern Zone, deer status December 2, 2012 New York, Plattsburgh Press Republican ... Thanks to an easy winter, there were plenty of deer around, but they still did not have it easy thanks to little or no mast crop production ... ferns were a major food source. Mushrooms were also targeted by deer as were backyard bird feeders and gardens earlier in the season. This leaves hunters speculating about what effect a hard upcoming winter could have on the deer should that be the case... Successful deer and bear hunters required to report kill within a week November 22, 2012, Press & Sun-Bulletin Given the mild weather, it is estimated that approximately 85 percent of the state's 550,000 licensed deer hunters went afield last weekend for the opening of the New York Southern Zone firearms deer season... failure to report a deer or bear kill is a violation of state Environmental Conservation Law. Hunters may report via our online reporting system at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8316.html or by calling the toll-free automated reporting system at 1-866-GAME-RPT (1-866-426-3778)... Village of Cayuga Heights suspends deer-culling plan November 20, 2012 New York, Ithaca Journal ... the Village Board of Trustees announced that after sending consent forms to the owners of the approximately 900 land parcels that make up the municipality, owners of roughly 90 parcels said they would not allow culling on their property. The board said that while this only constitutes 10 percent of the land in the village, it would limit the number of feasible sites necessary for the culling strategy to succeed. As a result, the New York State Department of Conservation has approved the village’s request to increase the number of does it may sterilize from 60 to 145 ... New York state firearms deer season opens, this weekend November 19, 2012 Metrowny.com Nine units in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties have deer populations below desired levels and more conservative antler-less harvests, through reduced deer management permit availability, was mandated, in these units ... Five of the region’s wildlife management units have deer populations greater than 10 percent above the desired management levels... [DEC] will maintain harvest pressure on antler-less deer in these areas, such as WMU 9F and 9H, the nearest suburban areas to population centers... Hunting season takes off in New York November 18, 2012 New York, WIVB DEC wants hunters to know for next week when deer hunting begins in Pennsylvania, about the outbreak of chronic wasting disease among the deer population in PA. Therefore, hunters cannot bring a whole deer back over the border ... Deer hunters hit the woods November 18, 2012 New York, Times Herald-Record ... Saturday marked the beginning of another bear and deer hunting season in the state's Southern Zone, whose motels, diners and convenience stores will draw a steady stream of orange-clad hopefuls until the season closes at sunset on Dec. 9. The zone, which includes Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties, draws participation from about 85 percent of the state's 550,000 deer hunters and accounts for nearly 60 percent of the state's deer harvest, according to the DEC. Deer have their guard down this time of year because of the rut November 16, 2012 New York, Syracuse.com (blog) ... most of the year, white-tailed deer are extremely capable of detecting danger and steering clear. Their eyesight, hearing and sense of smell are extremely acute. But this time of year they have a weakness. Their natural urge to breed and defend territory during “the rut” causes them to let their guard down...beginning with the “chasing phase,” during which the deer really move around in search of does... during the ... ‘lockdown’ phase ... most of the breeding is done ... | Search for news and information by keyword above or find links to state news stories organized by topic. DEC's Management Plan for White-tailed Deer in New York State, 2012-2016. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is asking the public to report any instances of deer appearing sick or acting abnormally. Report sightings to its office in Ray Brook by calling 518-897-1200. Or report it to your nearest DEC regional wildlife office (www.dec.ny.gov/about/50230.html). - New York Hunting Guide 2012-2013 - Hunting Regulations - Wildlife Management Maps for Central New York  - New York Department of Environmental Conservation General Mission: "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being." DMP Quota Setting - Cornell University Integrated Deer Research and Management Study: The goal is to reduce deer associated complaints using fertility control research, fencing, and repellents. - CayugaDeer,org information about deer management in the city of Cayuga Heights. - Senecawhitedeer.org proposes a tourist facility at the former Depot that would feature not only the white deer, but the fascinating military history of the site and the other wildlife “beyond the fence.” - East Hampton Group for Wildlife: promotes respect for all species of wildlife and explores humane solutions to human-wildlife conflicts. - Deer Search WNY, helping hunters track wounded animals. The history of white-tailed deer in New York is tied closely to the patterns of human land use and development. In their 1956 document, History of the White-tailed Deer in New York (3.8Mb PDF), former DEC biologists C.W. Severinghaus and C.P. Brown describe the distribution and abundance of deer in New York in pre-Colonial times and from the Colonial Period through the mid-1950s. |
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