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Sportsmen announced today that they are proposing a continuation and expansion of yearling buck protection for the 2010 season to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).  The proposed hunting changes will expand the existing yearling buck protection with antler restrictions to include additional Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). For the 2010 proposal, each WMU is being considered separately on a unit-by-unit basis by the sportsmen from theWMU.  The areas proposed for inclusion in the yearling buck protection program include WMUs, 3A, 4S, 4G, 4R, 40,4P, and 4W, located in Sullivan, Ulster, Delaware, Greene and Schoharie Counties.  If enacted, the proposal will require deer hunters in those areas to take bucks that have three or more antler points on one side, instead of the antiquated three inch spike antler law which has been in existence since 1912. Similar changes have been successfully enacted in 21 other states and are intended to provide a better balance to the buck age structure of deer populations. The over-harvest of immature bucks is deemed to be biologically inappropriate by many prominent wildlife biologists across the nation. New York State is in the top three worst states for taking the highest percentage of immature bucks among states that hunt white-tailed deer. Only New Jersey and Minnesota harvest more immature bucks than New York.

David Hartman, of the Sullivan County Federation, and President of NYSWMC is optimistic about this year’s proposal “We have overwhelming support which continues to grow and we have completed all steps required by the DEC to implement yearling buck protection with antler restrictions in the new areas”.  “Unit 3A that we are proposing has the support of 70% of the Hunters”, Hartman noted “This year the DEC is not raising the license fees by over 40%”. He added, “This dramatic increase apparently made the DEC reluctant to make any changes last year in spite of how well they were supported”.

Jay Martin, Big Game Chairman for Ulster County Federation of Sportsmen, pointed out that based on DEC’s own survey of hunters who went afield in the proposed units 67% of the hunters in the affected area supported antler restrictions. “Supporters far out number opponents; it is time for the DEC to respond to majority rule and modern science,” stated Martin.

Bill Willis spokesman for the Five County Coalition of Sportsmen and member of the Delaware County Department of Economic Development, which is proposing Units 4O, 4P and 4W, stated that approximately 80% of all male deer taken in Delaware County are still immature yearlings.  “This is a terrible waste of a valuable resource and it is time to support the wishes of 7 out of 10 hunters in Delaware County,” Willis noted.  He points out that under the current laws the opportunities for seeing and taking an adult buck in our county are extremely low.

Delaware County Economic Development believes that a greater percentage of adult bucks will increase economic activity from hunters.  As Willis explained hunters’ anticipation of seeing or harvesting an older buck will result in more travel to the area and encourage sportsmen to hunt longer and more often.  Every additional day afield directly increases revenue to lodging, restaurants, gas stations and local shopping.  It has been calculated by the DEC that deer hunting in Delaware County generates over $16,000,000 in annual economic impact.

Les Armstrong, of the Greene County Federation of Sportsmen, NY Deer and Elk Farmers Association, NYSCC Big Game Committee, and Vice Chair Hudson Mohawk RCD stated, “There is no reason for the DEC to not move forward with Antler Restrictions in 2010.” “We believe that by proposing the units individually, a problem in one unit will not interfere with the sportsmen from other units desiring the management improvement.” “The DEC can not continue to ignore the modern deer management taking hold in so many other states.   The DEC must address the wishes of the super majority of sportsmen and protect yearling bucks”.

When reached for comment, Charlie Fiscella, President of the NYS Chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association a member of the Ulster County Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs said the deer management staff of the DEC continues to base deer management decisions on statutory regulations that are almost 100 years old and have no scientific or biological basis.  “New York State has an abundant deer resource and diverse hunting opportunities. Furthermore, DEC has the ability to be a leader in deer management, and needs to rise to the occasion and advocate for modern management techniques such as yearling buck protection,” Fiscella noted.

Tom Yager, of the Sullivan County Federation of Sportsmen, and deer hunter for over 60 years stated that the DEC is being asked by hundreds of clubs and thousands of sportsmen to support expansion of antler restrictions, and needs to follow their own guidelines and adopt the sportsmen’s proposal. It is our hope that antler restrictions and other sound deer management practices will move forward with DEC leadership rather than remain stagnant.”

David Wood, Vice President of the Schoharie Conservation Council, and Vice President of New York Fish and Wildlife Management Board Region 4, stated “that this is a great opportunity for the DEC to rebuild the broken trust with sportsmen by moving forward with antler restrictions as it is strongly supported and continually requested by the sportsmen.  After trying to close the pheasant farm, raising sporting license fees, and refusing to adopt yearling buck protection last year, the DEC has a lot of work to do with sportsmen to rebuild the relationship. Adopting our proposal is the best first step for them to consider.” He also added that “he and others have felt that DEC staff last year were making decisions based on personal beliefs and politics rather than wildlife science.”

Charles Bevilacqua, of CFAB, stated that “Licensed hunters are falling dramatically, from 1984 to 2008 license holders have fallen 142,000 or 20% and the average age of hunters is getting older every year, currently around fifty.”  He added “Cornell surveys found that 75% of NY hunters felt that the number of older bucks were too low to be satisfied.” “We know that the majority of hunters support protecting yearling bucks”. Furthermore he added “Falling hunter numbers, lack of hunter satisfaction with the number of older bucks, and strong support for yearling buck protection it is readily apparent that the best way to address these issues in a cost effective manor is to implement yearling buck protection with Antler Restrictions.  This can only lead to improvements in the hunting experience in NYS and concurrently enhance hunter retention and recruitment.

In neighboring Pennsylvania, antler restrictions were enacted statewide in 2003 and as a result the yearling buck harvest has decreased from 80% to 32% during that period.  Hunters now enjoy harvesting 2.5 year old bucks with larger bodies and more meat and express overall satisfaction about seeing more bucks while afield hunting.  In 2007 a survey found that 65% of Pennsylvania hunters continue to support the statewide antler restriction program after the first 4 years.

The Pennsylvania program is a great success in an adjoining state right next door with a similar habitat to New York. A similar endeavor has also been enacted in nearby Vermont, validating both the concept of yearling buck protection with antler restrictions and its applicability to New York’s deer program.

ALBANY, N.Y. (RELEASE) - Senator George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane) is pleased to announce that the State Senate has given final passage to legislation (S.6793-B) he co-sponsored to allow for hunting with crossbows in New York State.

“Normally I’m forced to spend a lot of time in Albany fighting against new laws that infringe on sportsmen’s rights,” Senator Maziarz said. “Today, I’m very pleased that we’re doing something positive for the hunting community. By incorporating the use of crossbows, we are opening up more hunting opportunities for a variety of New Yorkers, including seniors and the disabled. This is a step in the right direction that is long overdue.”

Senator Maziarz has been working to get a crossbow bill passed into law for a number of years. He first introduced legislation in 2003 to direct the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to promulgate rules and regulations for hunting with a crossbow. His predecessor, Senator John Daly, had advocated for similar legislation in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

“Opening the door to crossbows is good for the sportsmen community as a whole,” Senator Maziarz added. “Getting more people involved can only be a good thing for preserving and expanding sportsmen’s rights in Albany.”

The legislation approved today specifies that crossbows shall be authorized for any big game season when the shotgun or muzzle loader is permitted. Crossbows for hunting deer and bear must have a fourteen inch bolt, a seventeen inch width, a twenty-four inch length, a draw weight of between one hundred and two hundred pounds, and a trigger safety. Training on the safe use of crossbows will also become part of the curriculum of basic hunter education courses.

Incorporating crossbow hunting in New York State has been supported in the past by groups such as Disabled Sportsmen of America, Safari Club, New York State Conservation Council, the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs, and the Shooters’ Committee on Political Education (SCOPE).

The bill also eases the requirements for physically disabled persons to obtain permission to use a longbow modified with a mechanical device to help draw, hold, and release the long bow.

Senator Maziarz has encouraged Governor David Paterson to sign the bill into law.