The Peru Gazette

Hunters in New York Harvested More than 224,000 Deer in 2019-20

DEC Tested More than 2,600 Deer and Continues to Find No Evidence of CWD

The 2019 estimated deer take includes 103,787 antlerless deer and 120,403 antlered bucks. Statewide, this represents a nine percent decrease in antlerless harvest and a six percent increase in buck harvest from the last season. Regionally, hunters took 30,236 deer in the Northern Zone and 193,954 deer in the Southern Zone.

Across the state, hunters continued to voluntarily pass up young bucks. The portion of yearlings (1.5 years old) in the adult buck harvest dropped to 37 percent, the lowest level ever, and for the first time, harvest of 2.5-year-old bucks (41 percent) exceeded that of yearling bucks, demonstrating that New York hunters are adhering to the DEC campaign, Let Young Bucks Go and Watch Them Grow.

In addition, the 2019 season proved favorable for bowhunters, as take during the bowhunting season increased 18 percent from 2018. Deer take during the regular and muzzleloader seasons both dropped about six percent.

DEC’s 2019 Deer Harvest Summary report (PDF, 7 MB) provides tables, charts, and maps detailing the deer harvest around the state can be found on DEC’s website. Past harvest summaries are also available on DEC’s website.

2019 Deer Harvest Summary & Comparison
2019 Total 2018 Total Change (2018 to 2019) Previous 5-Year Average (2014-2018)
Total Take 224,190 227,787 -1.6% 217,184
Adult Male 120,403 113,385 6.2% 107,274
Adult Female 82,176 80,584 2.0% 78,410
Antlerless 103,787 114,402 -9.3% 109,910
Deer Management Permits Issued 624,612 618,186 1.0% 624,525
Deer Management Permit Take 81,134 89,639 -9.5% 84,575
Deer Management Assistance Program Take 8,257 9,004 -8.3% 10,115
Muzzleloader* 16,944 18,131 -6.5% 15,086
Bowhunting* 51,618 43,832 17.8% 41,472
Crossbow 10,569 10,829 -2.4% NA
Youth Hunt 1,148 1,025 12.0% 1,105
Harvest Reporting Rate 52.3% 51.4% 46.3%
% Older Bucks (≥2.5 years) in Harvest 62.6% 58.8% 53.5%
* Values for Muzzleloader and Bow Season Take include deer taken on Bow/Muzz tags and DMPs.

Notable Numbers

14.4 and 0.6 — number of deer taken per square mile in the units with the highest (WMU 8R) and lowest (WMU 5F) harvest density.
62.6 percent — portion of the adult buck harvest that was 2.5 years or older, the greatest in New York history and up from 40 percent a decade ago, and 30 percent in the 1990s.
65 percent — portion of eligible junior hunters that participated in the 2019 Youth Deer Hunt.
15,574 — number of hunter-harvested deer checked by DEC staff in 2019 to determine hunter reporting rate and collect biological data (e.g., age, sex, antler data).
2,658 — deer tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in 2019-20; none tested positive. DEC has tested more than 54,000 deer for CWD since 2002.
Deer harvest data are gathered from two main sources: harvest reports required of all successful hunters and DEC’s examination of more than 15,000 harvested deer at check stations and meat processors 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. A full report of the 2019-20 deer harvest, as well as past deer and bear harvest summaries, is available at DEC’s deer and bear harvests webpage.

No CWD Detections in New York in 2019

DEC tested 2,658 harvested deer across the state and found no evidence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the herd. DEC partners with cooperating meat processors and taxidermists in obtaining samples for testing each year.

“Preventing the introduction of CWD into New York is a high priority for DEC to ensure the health of our deer herd and to protect the recreational and viewing opportunities deer provide,” Commissioner Seggos said.

CWD is a highly contagious disease that affects deer, elk, moose, and caribou. CWD poses a significant threat to New York’s wild white-tailed deer herd. It is always fatal and there are no vaccines or treatments available. CWD is believed to be caused by a prion, which is an infectious protein, that can infect animals through animal-to-animal contact or contaminated environments. CWD has been found in 26 states.

To expand protections for New York deer and moose, DEC adopted regulations in 2019 to prohibit importation of carcasses of deer, elk, moose, and caribou taken anywhere outside of New York. Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) have increased enforcement efforts in recent years, seizing and destroying hunter-killed deer brought in illegally.

Buy Sporting Licenses Online

DEC is encouraging hunters, trappers, and anglers to purchase sporting licenses online to help further limit the community spread of COVID-19. Sporting licenses may be purchased online at any time, and anglers may use their privileges immediately by simply carrying their transaction number (DEC-LS#) with them while afield. Anglers, hunters, and trappers may also use the HuntFishNY mobile app to display an electronic copy of their license. The HuntFishNY app is available for download through the Apple App or Google Play stores. Back tags and carcass tags must still be mailed, and customers should allow 10-14 days for receipt of their tags. Please visit our website for more information about sporting licenses.