New York State Conservation Council, Inc.

# 9-10  Quality Deer Management Association
This resolution FAILED at the NYSCC Annual Meeting on September 18, 2010.

Whereas it is sound deer biology to have a balanced age structure of bucks in the herd;

Whereas many deer biologists support protecting yearling bucks in order to promote a balanced herd structure and sound deer management;

Whereas New York State buck harvests are comprised of 62% yearlings, one of the highest percentage of any state in the nation;

Whereas we are confident in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation deer biologists’ ability to establish a standard that will protect the majority of yearling bucks while making the majority of other age classes available for harvest;

Whereas we are also confident in the abilities of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation deer biologists to objectively monitor the effects of any such program created in New York;

Whereas yearling buck protection is supported by the majority of hunters in New York State;

Whereas sportsmen in many areas of New York have requested implementing an antler restriction program to protect yearling bucks; such areas include:  WMUs 3A, 4G, 4P, 4O, 4R, 4S and 4W;

Whereas we are comfortable with the levels of support and opposition in each WMU as determined by the spring 2009 hunter surveys, public meetings and public input;   
 
Whereas furthermore we commend the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation willingness to adopt new and progressive strategies to protect the majority of yearling bucks in the above-mentioned WMUs;

Whereas furthermore we offer our assistance to help New York State Department of Environmental Conservation staff to educate and/or inform sportsmen and women on the proposed changes;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NYSCC take any and all steps to assist the DEC to adopt  progressive strategies to protect the majority of yearling bucks in the above-mentioned WMUs as requested by the majority of sportsmen and that immediately a letter be sent to the DEC strongly encouraging them to adopt yearling buck protection in requested WMU’s.

Contact: John Rybinski    john101@windstream.net

Big Game Committee comments:  One interesting point that QDMA does not include in their YBP (yearling buck protection) is the call for AR’s. They point out many of the benefits of protecting the yearlings, like education and hunter support, there are many methods other than AR’s to achieve this goal.  With current DEC reports of yearling harvest under 60% we are not far from that goal.  Part of the opposition to this resolution is the fact that they include the Delaware County WMU’s 4O and 4P which are on record as opposing mandatory AR’s.  Shortening of seasons, single buck tag and other alternatives could help achieve this goal.  Votes: 5 support / 6 oppose / 3 abstain

Legislative Committee comments:  Oppose.  In “Be It Resolved”, should not have support of local hunters. It should have support of the local NYSCC member county federations. We should support our voting members. Also it should not include WMU where the County Federation is opposed to antler restrictions. Should have the date listed when the buck harvest rule became effective, not just list “100 years of deer management”. Many changes have been made over the years but no change has been made in regard to the 3” rule for bucks.

# 10-10  Schoharie County
This resolution FAILED at the NYSCC Annual Meeting on September 18, 2010. 

Whereas the white tail deer population in New York State, especially the buck numbers, is currently down from previous years in many areas, and the herd needs to be restored;

Whereas New York State’s deer management models are nearly 100 years old and may not reflect the recent advances and techniques provided by some newer scientific deer management models;

Whereas the white tail deer herd might be restored by increasing the buck to doe ratio, thereby increasing the number and age of the buck population;

Whereas the proposed implementation of new white tail deer management techniques and harvest programs may increase deer hunter participation and satisfaction, thereby resulting in an improved and more efficient tool to achieve a raised level of annual deer harvest numbers needed for better herd management;

Whereas there is growing interest among New York State white tail deer hunters to participate in deer herd management, and to expand  hunting opportunities and raise satisfaction levels, by increasing the opportunity to pursue and harvest mature bucks and create adult sex ratios that are in balance with deer herd health;

Whereas the NYS DEC implemented antler harvest restrictions in 2005 in Ulster County in two DMU units, and in 2006 two DMU units in Sullivan County. The white tail deer hunters report satisfaction with the program in these areas, and would like to expand the program to include additional counties including more upstate counties in Region 4;

Whereas Schoharie County is centrally located in the NYSDEC Region 4 and has overwhelming support for improving white tail deer hunting in their local area; and proposes that DMU 4G, a unit wholly contained within the boundaries of Schoharie County, be included in the implementation of an antler harvest restriction program;*

Whereas the expansion to include Unit 4G is also supported by several county conservation federations including the Schoharie County Conservation Association, and QDMA. This expansion would provide the first DMU in the upstate area of New York State, affording more upstate area white tail deer hunters the opportunity to experience hunting in an area with an alternative deer harvest strategy program in place.

BE IT RESOLVED that the NYSCC shall support an alternative deer harvest strategy that may include antler harvest restrictions, to achieve a greater level of maturity and numbers among bucks of certain area deer populations, and that such programs be supported and implemented in the NYSDEC Wildlife Management Units that have the support of the local NYSCC member county conservation or sportsman federations.

Contact:  Willie Karlau   518-295-7781    bwkarlau@midtel.net

Sponsor-suggested change: *Whereas Schoharie County is centrally located in the NYSDEC Region 4 area and has growing support for improving white tail deer hunting in their county; and proposes that WMU 4G, a unit largely within the boundaries of Schoharie County, shall be included in the implementation of an antler restriction program;
 
Big Game Committee comments:  Specifically WMU 4G, which is wholly contained in this county, would like to see the alternate harvest strategy implemented in this area because it has the support of the “home rule” organizations in the county federation. They support programs which may include AR’s but did not specifically state it had to include AR’s. The issue that creeps into the conversation is that by DEC’s accounts, there are more hunters from outside some of these counties who use the area than those within.  Because of this the “home rule” argument makes less sense for both those organizations for and against mandatory AR’s.  Votes: 6 support / 5 oppose / 3 abstain

Legislative Committee comments:  Support; would like to see the date listed when the buck harvest rule became effective, not just list “100 years of deer management”. Many changes have been made over the years but no change has been made in regard to the 3” rule for bucks.