(WNY News Now) – New York – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) revealed that hunters in the 2023-24 season harvested a total of 209,781 deer, marking a significant milestone in deer management. However, concerns have emerged over a decline in the harvest of antlerless deer, prompting DEC to explore strategies for population control.
Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that hunters across the state harvested an estimated 209,781 deer during the 2023-24 hunting seasons. This harvest notably included more than double the number of older bucks (those aged two-and-a-half years or older) compared to the early 1990s, indicating a positive trend in the state’s deer population management efforts.
Of the total harvest, 112,224 were antlered bucks (adult males), while 97,557 were antlerless deer (adult females and fawns of either sex). However, there was a 3.6 percent decrease in the antlered buck harvest and a more substantial 15.6 percent decrease in the antlerless deer harvest compared to the previous season. The decline in antlerless deer harvest, approximately 15 percent lower than the five-year average, raises concerns as DEC relies on this harvest to maintain balanced deer populations and mitigate negative impacts such as crop damage and deer-vehicle collisions.
DEC’s evaluation indicates that some regions, particularly the Western Finger Lakes and Central Appalachian Plateau, have witnessed high deer harvest densities, with more than 10 deer per square mile. However, in certain units, there is a need for increased harvesting of antlerless deer to achieve effective population management goals.
In response to these findings, DEC is exploring regulatory and non-regulatory alternatives to encourage the harvest of antlerless deer in future hunting seasons. The department urges all deer hunters to consider harvesting at least one antlerless deer during the upcoming 2024-25 season to support population control efforts.
Despite the significant harvest, DEC remains vigilant against potential threats to the state’s deer population. Throughout the 2023-24 seasons, DEC staff and cooperating taxidermists conducted surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), with samples collected from 2,713 deer. Fortunately, no samples tested positive, maintaining New York’s status as CWD-free. Additionally, there were no documented outbreaks of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in the state’s deer herd in 2023.
Notable statistics from the 2023-24 season include a 67.9 percent portion of the adult buck harvest consisting of deer two-and-a-half years or older, a significant increase from previous decades. Moreover, 49.9 percent of successful deer hunters reported their harvest as required by law, slightly above the five-year average. DEC’s precision in estimating the statewide deer harvest stood at approximately 1.7 percent.
Deer harvest data are gathered from two main sources — harvest reports required within seven days of harvest of all successful deer hunters, and DEC’s examination of harvested deer at meat processors and check stations across the state. Harvest estimates are made by cross-referencing these two data sources and calculating the total harvest from the reporting rate for each zone and tag type.
DEC’s 2023-24 Deer Harvest Summary report provides tables, figures, and maps detailing the deer harvest around the state. Past harvest summaries are also available on DEC’s website. Appendix two of DEC’s Management Plan for White-tailed Deer provides information on how DEC sets deer population objectives throughout the state.
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