DEC Announces Proposed Changes to Increase Harvest of Antlerless Deer

[grazan]

THE BAD PART UP FRONT "Establish an “Earn-a-2nd-Buck" System"

DEC Announces Proposed Changes to Hunting Regulations to Increase Harvest of Antlerless Deer
Proposed Changes Include Modifications to DEC’s Deer Management Permit Process
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced several proposed regulation changes to increase harvest of antlerless deer by hunters. These proposed actions will improve DEC’s ability to manage deer populations to help ensure a healthy herd while also preventing potential increases in deer-vehicle collisions, reduced forest regeneration, and other negative impacts of deer overabundance.  DEC is accepting comments on the proposed regulations through May 17.  Go to the DEC link below for all the details and to submit comments.
The updates include:
Increasing DMP availability.
Allowing unlimited DMP transfers between hunters.
Expanding the September antlerless season to more WMU’s.
Establishing a “Earn a 2nd Buck” system.
All details are on the DEC page link below:
https://dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases/2026/3/dec-announces-proposed-changes-to-hunting-regulations-to-increase-harvest-of-antlerless-deer

[greensider]

Personally I think this is the first time I can completely agree with them

[greensider]

Looks like they adopted most of the changes where I hunt will basically be unlimited does and earn a buck for second buck tag

[greensider]

Definitely happy with the new changes I got my license online and instantly got 4 doe tags 2 limited area 2 unlimited so I can keep getting more and will be quick to earn my second buck tag

[grazan]

what's going to stop bad people from turning in a doe tag w/o actually harvesting a doe to get another buck tag? There are bad people who are also hunters ....

[1shot1kill]

I was curious about the same thing.  Is there any kind of accountability for earning the second buck tag?

[greensider]

As I understood what I read is that we are supposed to retain the doe head in case they want to see proof eventually it's going to be a photo submission

[grazan]

dont think my wife will support saving a head ...... she supports most things but not a severed head indefinitely

[ole bleu]

Okay this is a bulloooo money grab to fine hunters enough on that part if they wanted to implement this correctly they should have ample check stations in each management unit for hunters so they can get there deer checked and comply to the rules for the second tag

[1shot1kill]

Interesting, retain the doe head.  Guess they're sorting it out.  Yeah, I can already hear my wife griping about more animals parts laying around or in the freezer!  haha

[Rickhem]

I'll bet there starts to be a lot more carcases along the roads that have had the head removed. 

[grazan]

or a Doe head black market is created

[greensider]

I am in 7r I don't mind the changes and sure it will be like everything decals has always been just a pia mess also I believe you have to download an app to register a tag maybe I will find out this afternoon passed a big doe this morning it's fawn was just to small yet

[greensider]

Earned my second buck tag this afternoon

[1shot1kill]

Way to and an early start to filling the freezer!