Local group opposes antler restrictions
On June 18, New York Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Alexander “Pete” Grannis issued a statement affirming that the DEC would not extend antler restrictions in eight southeastern Wildlife Management Units this coming season.
Last Thursday, representatives at the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs meeting at Alden Rod&Gun Club reconfirmed their unanimous opposition to antler restrictions in DEC Region 9 when yet another New York State Conservation Council resolution—this one submitted from Delaware County— came up for discussion.
Since the season of 2005, hunters in four Southern Catskills WMUs have been limited to taking only bucks with three, 1-inch points per antler/side.
Generally, this restriction increases survival of young-adult bucks and results in a greater equalization of yearlings, 2z-, and 3zye 1/2 r- old males and older.
A clear and ongoing division exists across the state between trophy hunters looking for mature deer with respectable antler-rack formations and so-called “meat hunters.” Hunters typically afield in search of meat rather than prize-size deer heads each year favor the current buck take set at one antler measuring at least 3 inches.
Dan Tone, a New York State Conservation Council official, stressed that conditions in Region 3 or Delaware do not necessarily apply in Region 9.
“It all depends on how things are locally,” Tone said.
Ohio recently adopted antler restriction (AR) zones, which will be imposed for the first time this coming season. Pennsylvania established an AR program virtually statewide in 2003.
Many Keystone State hunters bitterly opposed this program. Eventually, the AR coordinator was forced to resign in the face of public outcries and numerous personal threats. Today, the Pennsylvania AR program has received accolades for controlling deer numbers and for bigger, healthier adult deer. But hunter numbers have gone down and many in that state blame AR rules for the decline.
In making his decision against added ARs, Grannis wrote, “At the present time, our biologists see no specific management benefit associated with the antler program and do not consider antler restrictions as necessary to improve herd [conditions].”
Rather than settle arguments, this decision displeases AR supporters and further complicates decision- making in the future.
The Quality Deer Management Association has been unduly characterized as exclusively pro-AR; however, this current round of AR discussion in this state had QDMA officials reaffirming its stance that ARs should be applied on a case-by-case basis only.
Another round of restriction proposals are in the works for next season. Conditions, populations, and hunters’ perceptions could change. Across the state varied terrain, habitat, and herd health considerations will—once again—be based more on local conditions and considerations than the best of all possible statewide statements.
For now, all current antler counts—statewide and locally— will remain the same for the 2009 season.
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