New York State Conservation Council, Inc.

Whereas the length of the late Archery/Muzzle loader season is only 9 days,

Whereas archery/muzzleloader season hunters can only take one buck as it is now thus not perpetuating a perceived "more buck opportunity",

Whereas neighboring states Ohio and Pennsylvania provide dates in January for muzzleloader hunting, and Connecticut provides time up until Dec 31 st,

Whereas these neighboring states may be taking licensing money from NY hunters seeking more opportunity afield,

Whereas time afield during Christmas vacation from schools will allow for high quality family time,

Whereas any opportunity to provide time afield for hunters also provides time afield for youth,

Whereas a conscious hunter can distinguish the difference between a snowmobile and a deer,
 
Whereas farmers who rely on hunters to control deer herds can allow or disallow hunters and/or snowmobiles through their properties at their discretion,

BE IT RESOLVED that the NYSCC pursue with the DEC that the late Archery/Muzzleloader Season start the day after Regular firearms season and end on December 30th every year.

Adam Ziccardi,
West Falls Conservation Society Delegate to the Erie County Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs
6668 Chestnut Ridge Rd
Orchard Park, NY 14127
aziccardi2025@yahoo.com

Whereas deer populations in New York State, especially buck numbers, are currently substantially down from previous numbers in many areas and the herd must be restored;

Whereas New York’s basic deer management strategies regimes are almost 100 years old and do not reflect recently emerging advances and techniques provided for by scientific deer management;

Whereas the deer herd should be restored in a balanced and biologically sound way by increasing the buck to doe ratio by increasing the numbers and age of the buck population;

Whereas implementation of new deer management techniques and harvest regimes could substantially increase deer hunter participation and satisfaction, and ultimately provide a better and more efficient tool to achieve the levels of annual deer harvest needed for better herd management;

Whereas there is growing interest among New York hunters to refine their role as deer herd managers and expand their hunting opportunities and satisfactions, including the opportunity to pursue and take more mature bucks and create adult sex ratios that are in balance with deer herd health;

Whereas certain areas, such as Ulster County, Sullivan County, Greene County, Delaware County, Schoharie County and other areas have overwhelming support for improving buck hunting in their local area;

Whereas the DEC implemented antler harvest restrictions in 2005 in Ulster County in two units and in 2006 in Sullivan County two units and sportsmen are happy with the program and would like to expand the program to include additional counties;

Whereas the expansion to include additional units is also supported by Sullivan County Federation of Sportsmen, Ulster County Federation of Sportsmen, Greene County Federation of Sportsmen,  Schoharie County Conservation Association, Duchess County Federation of Sportsmen, Suffolk Alliance of Sportsmen, Nassau County Fish and Game and QDMA;

Whereas improved buck hunting could establish a statewide precedent and have far reaching implications;

Whereas improved buck hunting will benefit all New York hunters who wish to hunt in these areas;

Whereas sportsmen with the support of their communities requested the DEC improve buck hunting by implementing yearling buck protection in 2009, the DEC withdrew the proposal and other remedies have not been successful in accomplishing this requested change;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NYSCC position be that an alternative deer harvest strategy that includes antler harvest restrictions needed to achieve greater levels of maturity among the buck segment of the deer population be implemented in wildlife management units that have the support of local hunters, such as unit 3A, 4G, 4R, 4S, 4O, 4P and 4W on an unit by unit basis and that NYSCC advocate for and support regulation and legislative change to implement said position including conveying said support in writing to the DEC.

Contact:
Charles A. Bevilacqua
3 Albert Avenue, Syosset 117911
516/921-1429