New York Hunters Consulted by D.E.C.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The state Department of Environmental Conservation has launched a statewide survey of deer hunters to get their opinions on the new deer management plan.

The survey is being conducted for DEC by the Human Dimensions Research Unit at Cornell University.

Commissioner Joe Martens says that during the development of the 2012-2016 deer management plan, some hunters expressed strong interest in modifying hunting rules to allow more bucks to live to older ages. In response, the agency has tried several ways to reduce harvest of yearling bucks.

The survey is intended to help wildlife managers identify which buck management strategy best balances hunter opinions in various regions of the state.

Questionnaires are being mailed to a random sample of 7,000 big game license holders.

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