OUTDOORS: State DEC releases deer, bear harvest numbers
By Bill HiltsNiagara Gazette
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced results from the 2006 deer hunting seasons.
More than 189,000 whitetails were taken by hunters last fall. Included in that take were 96,600 antlered bucks and 92,500 antlerless deer. The total harvest was up about 9,000 animals — the first time in four years the deer harvest has increased.
While the DEC anticipated a slight increase after management actions from 2004 and 2005, which were designed to rebuild and stabilize the deer herd in many parts of the state, many hunters did not. In fact, many hunters reported one of their poorest seasons on record as far as sighting deer and actually harvesting an animal.
The big four harvest counties in the state were no different than year's past, with Steuben (10,229), Cattaraugus (8,492), Allegany (8,341) and Chautauqua (6,810) leading the way in the state. Rounding out the top five, St. Lawrence County chalked up 6,442 deer. Erie County came in at 5,380 deer and Niagara at 1,897. Both of those numbers were down from 2005.
Some other interesting facts that came out in the recent announcement:
n No new Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) infected animals were reported, after testing 8,000 deer across the state.
n There were only 35 hunting related shooting accidents, making it the fourth safest season on record. Of that total, 20 were associated with big game hunting. There was only one fatality.
NY takes almost 800 bears
Empire State big game hunters scored on 796 black bears in 2006. Of that total, 318 were taken in the Adirondacks, 113 in the Allegany Zone and 365 in the Catskills. The 113 killed in Western New York in the Allegany Zone were just slightly below the record harvest of 119 set in 2005. Of that total, 51 were taken by bow and arrow — tying the record set in 2005.
Another record set during the bear season was the fact that 177 bears were taken in the Catskills by bow and arrow.
Of the overall totals in the state, 74 were taken during the early season, 237 were taken during the archery seasons, 25 were taken during muzzleloader season and 460 were taken during the regular seasons in the Northern and Southern zones of the state.
More than 189,000 whitetails were taken by hunters last fall. Included in that take were 96,600 antlered bucks and 92,500 antlerless deer. The total harvest was up about 9,000 animals — the first time in four years the deer harvest has increased.
While the DEC anticipated a slight increase after management actions from 2004 and 2005, which were designed to rebuild and stabilize the deer herd in many parts of the state, many hunters did not. In fact, many hunters reported one of their poorest seasons on record as far as sighting deer and actually harvesting an animal.
The big four harvest counties in the state were no different than year's past, with Steuben (10,229), Cattaraugus (8,492), Allegany (8,341) and Chautauqua (6,810) leading the way in the state. Rounding out the top five, St. Lawrence County chalked up 6,442 deer. Erie County came in at 5,380 deer and Niagara at 1,897. Both of those numbers were down from 2005.
Some other interesting facts that came out in the recent announcement:
n No new Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) infected animals were reported, after testing 8,000 deer across the state.
n There were only 35 hunting related shooting accidents, making it the fourth safest season on record. Of that total, 20 were associated with big game hunting. There was only one fatality.
NY takes almost 800 bears
Empire State big game hunters scored on 796 black bears in 2006. Of that total, 318 were taken in the Adirondacks, 113 in the Allegany Zone and 365 in the Catskills. The 113 killed in Western New York in the Allegany Zone were just slightly below the record harvest of 119 set in 2005. Of that total, 51 were taken by bow and arrow — tying the record set in 2005.
Another record set during the bear season was the fact that 177 bears were taken in the Catskills by bow and arrow.
Of the overall totals in the state, 74 were taken during the early season, 237 were taken during the archery seasons, 25 were taken during muzzleloader season and 460 were taken during the regular seasons in the Northern and Southern zones of the state.
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