This Year’s Deer Harvest Lower Than Needed

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — State wildlife managers tallying results of the 2013 big game season say it looks like hunters killed slightly more deer than last year, but not enough to meet population reduction goals in targeted areas.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation says the number of deer killed in the Southern Zone, which is most of the state, looks like it's about 1 percent higher than last year.

The agency tried to increase the number of antlerless deer killed to reduce deer populations in many areas. The goal was to issue about 18 percent more special doe permits, but hunters got only about 7 percent more permits.

The conservation agency says it appears likely that even higher antlerless harvests will be needed over the next few years to achieve population reduction goals.