Hunting and Trapping Newsletter

Too Many Deer Impact Forest Health

Does your woods have an open understory or an obvious browse line? These are clear signs of too many deer. To improve your woodland habitat, for the benefit of deer and other wildlife and for the sustainability of your forest, consider harvesting more antlerless deer. DEC’s Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) is available to help landowners in this situation. DMAP permittees receive additional antlerless deer tags that they can use or distribute to licensed hunters of their choice for use on the property where they are experiencing problems. The tags can be used only during open deer hunting seasons.

To see the eligibility requirements for DMAP, or to download an application form, visit the DMAP web page. Applications for this fall must be submitted to your regional DEC office by August 1.

 Women-Only Hunter Education on Long Island

On June 22, 2019, the DEC Hunter Education Program and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) hosted the first Long Island women’s only hunter education class at the beautiful Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island. Twenty-seven female participants ranging from 13 to 64 years old of all backgrounds attended the course. The students learned about hunting ethics, laws, safe firearm handling, and tree stand safety. The perfect weather allowed the attendees to learn in the field, to get hands-on training using firearms and review proper hunter safety.

The free hunter safety course is required for everyone in New York State prior to purchasing a hunting license.

DEC and TNC offered this course to help remove barriers for women getting into shooting sports and hunting. It can be harder to find mentors and people to hunt with, and male dominated rod and gun clubs can be uncomfortable when practicing hunting skills. This class included all-female instructors and hands-on skills to help participants overcome common barriers and become more confident.

Women interested in obtaining more skills in this area can visit DEC’s website on Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW). The program provides women with information, encouragement, and hands-on instruction in outdoor skills such as fishing, shooting, archery, hunting, trapping, outdoor photography, map and compass, survival, camping, canoeing, outdoor cooking, and more.

If you would like to receive information directly from the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program, sign up for the BOW newsletter now!