Jun 22, 2026
Photo courtesy of Adam McInerney Western New York deer are healthy, providing an average of around 45 to 70 pounds of healthy, red-meat venison. The new DEC hunting rules for 2026 raise concerns among many hunters.
New York’s deer herd continues to grow across much of the state, and the Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing the most significant package of deer management changes in years to address the trend.
The proposed regulations are intended to increase the harvest of antlerless deer — primarily does — which wildlife biologists consider essential to maintaining healthy deer populations and reducing problems associated with overabundant herds. DEC officials point to concerns including increased deer-vehicle collisions, reduced forest regeneration, agricultural damage and declining habitat quality.
“Deer populations are growing throughout much of New York state,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in announcing the proposals, emphasizing that greater harvest of antlerless deer is necessary to keep populations balanced with available habitat.
Data collected by DEC shows why officials believe action is necessary. Fewer than 15% of licensed hunters harvest even one antlerless deer in a season, and only about 3% harvest two or more. DEC spent several years evaluating options, including hunter focus groups, surveys, and consultations with deer managers throughout the Northeast, receiving more than 1,000 replies from hunters directly.
Several proposals are designed to make antlerless tags easier to obtain. Hunters in Wildlife Management Units without permit quotas could receive additional Deer Management Permits, potentially allowing them to hold up to four permits at the time they purchase their license. Hunters who successfully harvest and report antlerless deer in those areas could receive bonus permits, allowing continued harvest.
Submitted Photo Steve Haak found several weigh-station walleye while fishing Lake Erie during the recently ended Southtowns Walleye Association’s 42nd annual fishing contest. Lake Erie walleye fishing is the best ever this year.
Currently, Wildlife Management Units 1C, 3S, 4J and 8C have no DMP quota. The proposed regulation would enable DEC to add and remove WMUs to the list of units without a DMP quota as population management needs change. For 2026, DEC would add 19 WMUs (3M, 3P, 3R, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F and 9G) to the list of those with no DMP quota. Under current state regulations, hunters can only have two DMPs transferred to them from other hunters. The proposed regulations would allow hunters to have an unlimited number of DMPs transferred to them from other hunters. Also, DEC will expand the nine-day season for antlerless deer in mid-September. Currently, WMUs 1C, 3S, 3M, 3R, 4J, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8J, 8N, 9A and 9F have a nine-day firearm/archery season for antlerless deer in mid-September. The proposed regulations would add 10 WMUs (3P, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8H, 8R, 8S and 9G) to the list of those enrolled in this September season.
Many hunters are likely to support the expanded opportunities to harvest does, particularly in areas where deer numbers have remained high for years. However, the proposal generating the greatest discussion may be the new “Earn-a-2nd-Buck” system.
Under current regulations, lifetime bowhunters and muzzleloader hunters receive an either-sex tag with those privileges, giving them the opportunity to legally harvest two antlered deer during the year. The proposed changes would require hunters to first harvest and report an antlerless deer before becoming eligible for a second antlered deer tag.
DEC would convert the existing regular season tag into a single antlered deer tag available to all hunters. The current bow and muzzleloader either-sex tags would become antlerless-only tags. After harvesting and reporting a doe using an eligible antlerless tag, hunters would earn a second antlered deer tag that could be used during any open season with the appropriate privileges.
From a biological standpoint, the proposal aligns with the department’s goal of increasing doe harvests. Similar programs have been used in other states to encourage hunters to take antlerless deer before pursuing an additional buck.
For some longtime hunters, however, particularly lifetime bowhunters and muzzleloader hunters who have traditionally viewed the second buck opportunity as a benefit of purchasing those privileges, the proposal represents a significant change. Critics argue that hunters who have invested in additional seasons and equipment are losing a long-standing advantage.
The coming public discussion is likely to focus on that balance: whether the biological benefits of increased antlerless harvest outweigh the loss of a valued opportunity for many dedicated deer hunters.
Few dispute that DEC is attempting to address a real management challenge. The question now is whether hunters will embrace the changes needed to achieve those goals. Please drop me a note on your thoughts.
Gotta love the outdoors.
CALENDAR
June 23: WNY Environmental Federation, monthly meeting, Knights/Columbus, Hamburg, 6 p.m. start. Open to the public. Free.
June 25: Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, monthly meeting, 6:30-9 p.m., Hamburg Rod & Gun Club, 3434 Hickox Road.
June 26: 10th annual WNY Heroes Fishing Day, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dunkirk Harbor; military veterans or active military; free; to sign up call 716-630-5020 ext. 209 or email dcollege@wnyheroes.org.
June 27: Jakes Day youth day event, Westfield Fish & Game, 8150 Ogden Road, Westfield; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., free lunch; open to public, events include fishing, shooting, archery, bird house building, more. Info: Bob Turk, 716-673-6703.
June 27: Teach-Me-To-Fish, Chestnut Ridge Park, 6121 Chestnut Ridge Road, Orchard Park; free, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., open to all ages, prizes for 15 & under; register: https://www.ecfsc.org/tmtf-chestnut-ridge-registration/. 716-662-3290.
June 27: 716 Kayak Bass Trail Tournament, Silver Lake, 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., $30 entry, $5 big bass option, register at Tourney X on smartphone. Catch-Photo-Release Tournament.
June 27-28: Free Fishing Days, New York state. For residents and non-residents.
June 27-28: Walleye Duel in Dunkirk, Bart’s Cove, $500 entry; three-fish bag/two days; call Mark Mohr: 716-998-9871.
CHAUTAUQUA — Angie Penhollow’s 43 led the Monday Night Ladies League at Chautauqua Golf Club. Julie Brown …
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