Here's the press release for those that are interested...

DEC RELEASES STATISTICS FROM 2004 DEER HARVEST

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced the harvest results of the 2004 deer hunting seasons.

During the 2004 season, hunters harvested slightly more than 208,000 total deer, including almost 89,000 bucks and approximately 120,000 antlerless deer. The total deer harvest for 2004 represents an 18 percent reduction compared to the 2003 total deer take of more than 253,000 deer. The record total deer take was approximately 308,000 in 2002. The 2004 buck take of nearly 89,000 also reflects an approximately 18 percent decline from 2003. Declines in total deer take were experienced across all of the major hunting zones in New York State in 2004.

“The recent declines in the deer take were a result of weather, hunting conditions in the field, and specific management actions intended to reduce deer populations from the high levels of 2002 and 2003 and bring populations closer to manageable levels in the many areas where deer were overabundant,” Commissioner Sheehan said. “Through targeted management techniques, DEC biologists will seek to increase deer populations over the next few years to achieve a better balance. However, deer populations comparable to 2002 levels cannot be maintained without long-term negative consequences such as damage to agriculture, forest regeneration, landscaping, or vehicle accidents.”

The winter of 2002-2003 proved to be especially harsh and deer numbers continued to decline as a result of the lingering effects. Additionally, winter mortality was also documented in a number of areas during the winter of 2003-04. Although the reductions were somewhat greater than planned, the current deer take numbers are similar to levels experienced in the mid 1990s. Under DEC’s management, harvests grew from about 206,000 deer in 1996 to record levels in just six years.

New York’s deer hunters took more than 80,000 adult females, which was an anticipated decline resulting from DEC’s reduction in the total number of deer management permits (DMPs) available during the 2004 season. In 2004, just over 600,000 DMPs were issued, about 80,000 fewer than in previous seasons.

DMPs are valid only for the taking of antlerless deer and serve as the cornerstone for statewide deer management efforts. Deer populations vary considerably throughout New York. Approximately one quarter of the current Wildlife Management Units (WMU) have deer populations that are within 10 percent of desired levels. Almost two-thirds of the units have deer populations lower than desired and the remaining units have higher than desired deer populations. The goal of DEC’s deer management program is to maintain deer numbers at levels that meet local interests and habitat conditions, while also providing quality hunting opportunities for New York’s 620,000 deer hunters.

Since 1990, DEC has utilized local citizen task forces to establish deer population objectives for most WMUs. The task forces represent a broad range of public interests and consider concerns of farmers, foresters, conservationists, landowners and hunters. Each WMU’s desired deer population level is expressed as a Buck Take Objective (BTO) and reflects the approximate buck take per square mile that would be taken when the deer population is close to the desired level.

The current winter has not yet had a significant impact on deer survival and small increases in deer populations can be expected for the 2005 season if current conditions continue. However, it is anticipated that overall DMP availability during the upcoming season will be less than in 2004 because deer numbers in many areas will still be below desired levels.

In New York State, Steuben County had the highest deer take in 2004, with 11,571 deer, including 4,499 bucks harvested. Cattaraugus County was second, with 10,658 deer, including 4,067 bucks, followed by Allegany County, 10,587 deer, including 3,929 bucks. St. Lawrence County (7,476 total, 3,562 bucks) and Chautauqua (7,430 total, 2,985 bucks) rounded out the top five counties in the State.

DEC has recently completed an extensive public outreach effort to consider modifications to the Southern Zone deer season structure and timing. Public input received at the recent public meetings, received via e-mail, telephone calls, regular mail and through personal communications will enable DEC to improve upon the earlier proposals. A draft proposal will be published in the State Register in April and interested persons will have 45 days to provide comments on the draft.


Wow...what a decline from 2002. The county in which I live/hunt in went from 23,000+ deer / 8,176 bucks harvested in 2002 to 11,571 deer/ 4,500 bucks in 2004...almost a 50% decline in total deer take. You'd never know it with all the deer that seem to have come outta the woodwork in the past couple of weeks. On a brighter note, there should be some dandy bucks around the area this year.