Pilot Antler Restriction Program
New York's pilot antler restriction program began in 2005 in two WMUs located primarily in Ulster County, and was expanded in 2006 to include two WMUs primarily in Sullivan County. The antler restriction stipulates that bucks taken in these areas have at least one antler with three points at least one inch in length to be legal. This standard is intended to reduce harvest of yearling bucks, allowing them to survive to older ages.

Buck take in each of these units dropped significantly during the first year of the program because many yearling bucks were not legal for harvest. As expected, buck take then increased in most units during the second year. However, buck takes in the Ulster County WMUs in 2007, the third year of the pilot restriction, were similar to 2006 takes. All of the pilot units are still below objectives.


The pilot program has demonstrated success in reducing harvest of yearling bucks and shifting the composition of harvest toward slightly older bucks. With data from all four units combined, harvest before the change was 57 percent yearlings, 29 percent 2.5 year olds, and 14 percent 3.5+ year olds. After the antler restriction, the take in these four units was 33 percent yearlings, 43 percent 2.5 year olds, and 24 percent 3.5+ year old bucks.


Article
http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/42292.html

These are the days I miss Altas insight. Anybody from NY hunt these counties?