New York State DEC finalizes latest changes to deer hunting regulations

The New York State DEC has finalized several new changes to deer hunting regulations.

“Deer populations are growing across much of New York and, in many areas, are increasing to levels that are detrimental to deer, their habitat, and the public,” Commissioner Amanda Lefton said.

“These regulatory changes are a result of robust public engagement and reflect DEC’s continued commitment to conservation.”

As previously reported, the DEC announced this spring that it was considering an incentive for hunters to harvest antlerless deer by establishing a statewide Earn-a-2nd-Buck System.

Under this newly finalized system, all hunters will receive a first Antlered Deer Tag which can be used during any season (with appropriate privileges), except the September antlerless season.

Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer using a DMP, Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag, or Deer Management Assistance Program Tag will be eligible to receive a second Antlered Deer Tag, which can also be used during those same seasons.

To facilitate this new Earn-a-2nd-Buck System, DEC is reclassifying the former Regular Season Deer Tag as an Antlered Deer Tag and the former Bow/Muzzleloader Either-Sex Deer Tag as a Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag.

Hunters who purchase bow-hunting and muzzleloading privileges would receive a Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag for each privilege.

DEC is adopting several changes to increase opportunity for hunters to access and utilize Deer Management Permits (DMPs, antlerless deer tags) where most needed, including:

• Adding 10 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs; 3P, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8H, 8R, 8S, and 9G) to the nine-day season for antlerless deer in mid-September.
• Designating 23 WMUs as having no DMP quota. Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer using a DMP in a WMU with no DMP quota would be eligible to have the DMP automatically replaced. For 2026, WMUs 1C, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4J, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G will have no DMP quota.
• Modifying the DMP application process by allowing hunters to apply for up to 4 DMPs: 2 in WMUs with a quota and 2 DMPs in WMUs with no quota.
• Allowing unlimited transfer of DMPs between hunters.

The changes were first proposed by DEC based on input from New York deer hunters and professional deer managers across the Northeast through focus groups and surveys administered by DEC.

Additionally, DEC reviewed more than 1,000 public comments on the regulatory proposal announced in March 2026, many of which recognized the need to increase antlerless harvest to mitigate negative deer impacts to ecosystems and the public.

The public also expressed concern over the potential for overharvest of deer in some areas and encouraged DEC to implement methods to validate the antlerless deer harvested under the Earn-a-2nd-Buck System.

NYS DEC image.