New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has unveiled a package of proposed changes to deer hunting regulations aimed at modernizing reporting, expanding youth opportunities, and improving deer management across the state.
Announced Friday, the proposals include digital hunting tags, shortened harvest reporting deadlines, and new tag options for young hunters. Public comments will be accepted through August 18.
“Hunting is vital to wildlife management and contributes $2.6 billion to New York’s economy,” said Jacqueline Lendrum, Director of the DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. “These proposals reflect public desires for improved hunting opportunities and better management tools.”
The new rules would allow hunters to use the HuntFishNY app for electronic tagging. The app works without cell service and would eliminate the need for physical tags while the carcass remains in the hunter’s possession. Paper tag users would see the harvest reporting deadline cut from seven days to 48 hours.
Youth hunters could also benefit from a proposed rule allowing them to receive a replacement tag if they use their regular season tag during the Youth Big Game Hunt. The replacement would be for a deer of the opposite sex.
Additionally, updates to the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) include extending the renewal cycle from three to five years and lifting the cap on the number of DMAP tags a hunter can use, while maintaining overall limits based on property size.
Comments can be submitted by email to [email protected] (subject: “e-tags and DMAP”) or by mail to NYSDEC, Attn: Deer Hunting Regs, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754.
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