| DEC ANNOUNCES
PROPOSED DEER AND BEAR HUNTING REGULATION CHANGES IN THE
SOUTHERN ZONE FOR THE 2006-07 HUNTING SEASON
Public
Encouraged to Comment on Draft Regulations until June 5, 2006
|
ALBANY, NY --
(04/25/2006) -- New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today
announced proposed changes that will open new areas in the
Southern Zone to black bear hunting and expand the existing
antler restriction pilot study. DEC will be accepting public
comments on the proposals until June 5, 2006.
"In our
continuing effort to better manage deer and bear populations and
to provide excellent hunting opportunities in New York State,
DEC is proposing several changes to hunting regulations in the
Catskill Region," Commissioner Sheehan said.
|
|
|
DEC is
proposing to open three additional Wildlife Management Units (WMUs)
for black bear hunting. Wildlife Management Units 4F, 4G and 4H
have demonstrated an increasing trend in the number and
frequency of bear nuisance problems in recent years
corresponding directly to increased bear populations in these
areas. Bear activity and complaint levels have risen by over 100
percent since 1999. The proposed expansion of the bear hunting
area to include WMUs 4F, 4G and 4H is aimed at the stabilization
and/or reduction in the number of bears in these areas and thus
the reduction of negative interactions between bears and people.
DEC is also
proposing an expansion of the current antler restriction pilot
program for WMUs 3H and 3K. The antler restriction program was
initiated in WMUs 3C and 3J in 2005 and is designed to expand
the age structure of the buck population. The proposed expansion
is necessary for enhancing deer population management and has a
strong level of demonstrated local support. It will establish
minimum antler restrictions for WMUs 3H and 3K. Under the
proposed regulations, deer hunters would only be authorized to
take bucks in WMUs 3H and 3K that have at least one antler with
at least three points. Young hunters, under the age of 17, would
be exempt from this requirement.
To view the
text of the proposed rulemaking, please visit the DEC website
at:
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/propregs/part1text.html
. Designated boundaries for the WMUs can be found on the DEC
website at:
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/wmunits.html
.
The proposed
changes for the Southern Zone include the following:
Black Bear
Hunting Areas - (all seasons)
-- Opens WMUs
4F, 4G, and 4H to the hunting of black bears during regular,
muzzloading, and archery seasons.
Antler
Restriction Pilot Study - WMUs 3H and 3K (all seasons)
-- Limits
harvest of antlered deer to those with at least one antler with
at least three points, at least one inch long;
-- Smaller
antlered bucks cannot be taken; and
-- Hunters
under the age of 17 are exempt and may take a buck with an
antler or antlers measuring more than three inches in length.
DEC will be
hosting a public meeting to discuss the proposed regulation
changes and to accept public comment. The meeting is scheduled
for Wednesday, May 17, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Schoharie
County Cooperative Extension Building, Cobleskill, NY.
The public is
encouraged to provide comments on the proposed changes. The
public comment period will remain open until June 5, 2006.
Comments may be mailed to: Jeremy Hurst, NYSDEC, Bureau of
Wildlife, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754 or can be emailed
to:
fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us . On any email sent to
this address, please include the subject head of "Comments on
Deer and Bear Hunting Regulations."
|
