The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reminded hunters to apply for deer management permits (DMPs) this week, ahead of the October 1 deadline, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

DEC’s wildlife biologists carefully analyze harvest information in conjunction with deer population objectives, developed with valuable input from citizen task forces,  to establish deer management permit quotas for each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU).  WMUs are the geographical units DEC uses to set hunting and trapping seasons in New York State.

New York hunters can apply for up to two deer management permits once they have secured a hunting license.  DEC’s computerized licensing system allows hunters to immediately learn the outcome of their permit application. The likelihood that a hunter will be selected for a permit is largely based on the number of deer management permits to be issued in a Wildlife Management Area and the number of hunters that historically apply for those permits. To date, applications for deer management permits have been slightly lower than in previous years.    

“Deer management permits for the 2014-15 hunting season have been available since the first week of August and we want to encourage hunters to apply for deer management permits in advance of the October 1 deadline,” Commissioner Martens said. 

Sporting licenses and permits can be purchased at one of DEC’s 1,100 license sales outlets statewide. Licenses can also be ordered by telephone at 866-933-2257, or online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html. The 2014-2015 hunting and trapping licenses are valid for one year beginning September 1, 2014. Under a new state law that took effect in February, fishing licenses and recreational marine fishing registrations are now valid for 365 days from date-of-purchase. Funds from the sale of all sporting licenses are deposited into the Conservation Fund, which is used to manage New York’s fish and wildlife populations and protect and manage fish and wildlife habitat.