New York State Conservation Council, Inc.

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 Sullivan County have overwhelming support for improving buck hunting in their local area;

Whereas the DEC implemented antler harvest restrictions in 2006 in Sullivan County in two units and the sportsmen of Sullivan Federation are happy with the program and would like to expand the program to include the remainder of the county contained in Unit 3A;

Whereas the expansion to include Unit 3A is also supported by 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 this region;

Whereas sportsmen with the support of their communities requested the DEC improve buck hunting by implementing yearling buck protection for unit 3A in 2005, 2006 and 2009, and the DEC did not adopt 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, on a 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:
David Hartman
PO Box 191
Grahamsville NY 12740
845-985-0087

Whereas the State of New York is facing severe financial hardship in this and future years;

Whereas the Conservation fund is also in financial stress;

Whereas attempts have been made to increase the numbers of hunters and fishermen, particularly among youth;

Whereas services and property access benefits others in addition to sportsmen such as boaters, hikers, bird watchers, horsemen, etc.

Whereas the habitat/access stamp has not provided anticipated monies and is not well supported by non-sportsmen, although many projects funded by the stamp benefit municipalities and non-¬sportsmen groups;

Whereas additional source of revenue could become available if all users of state forests were to make a contribution toward improving and maintaining access;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NYSCC work with NYSDEC to increase participation in the habitat/access program by both the sportsmen and the non-sportsmen.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NYSCC review the practicality of imposing and administering an access fee for use of all state forests.

It is recommended that if this is found practical, an appropriate legislation request be submitted to the NYSDEC.
 
Contact:      Edna Calkin, 169 County Road 116, Cochecton, NY 12726                  (845) 932-8929
                      Bill Gaudette, 95 Smith Road, Parksville, NY 12768-5321                   (845) 295-9272
                     Jack Danchak, 552 Equinunk Creek Road, Lakewood, PA 18439     (570) 798-2998

Whereas, there currently is no wanton waste law for whitetail deer in New York State, and,

Whereas, deer and other game animals are being harvested and disposed of without being consumed or donated to the Venison Donation Coalition, and,

Whereas, wild game, particularly, whitetail deer, are an excellent source of low fat nutrition, and,

Whereas, it is unethical to harvest an animal without salvaging the edible meat,

Therefore, be it resolved, that the NYS Conservation Council recommend that the state Legislature pass a law that requires anyone who kills or wounds a deer, including DMAP and nuisance permit holders, to make every effort to retrieve the wounded or dead animal and that the edible meat be salvaged.

James Bobnick
Pres. TCFSC
1418 Ithaca Rd
Willseyville, NY 13864
Home: 607-659-3791
Cell: 607-327-0923
Email: jbobnick@pleasantvalleyelectric.com