NYS DEC has released a final Deer Management Plan that DEC says will guide deer management for the next 10 years. The plan will include extended hunting hours, seasons and making it mandatory to wear fluorescent orange or pink clothing while hunting big game with a firearm.

DEC’s fluorescent clothing proposal states, any person hunting deer or bear with a firearm (including muzzleloaders) or a person who is accompanying someone hunting deer or bear with a firearm shall display either: 1. a minimum total of 250 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material worn above the waist and visible from all directions or 2. a minimum total of 250 square inches of patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink consisting of no less than 50% fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink worn above the waist and visible from all directions or 3. a hat or cap with no less than 50% of the exterior consisting of solid fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material and visible from all directions.

Neighboring state of Pennsylvania has had mandatory wearing of fluorescent orange clothing, while hunting with a firearm, for many years and it is a great safety feature. I have often said, if by wearing fluorescent orange clothing saves just one human life, it is worth it.

The proposed regulation changes will directly affect deer hunters in the field, and they include, expanding legal hunting hours to begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes after sunset, and requiring big game hunters to wear a defined amount of fluorescent orange or pink clothing when using a firearm including muzzleloaders.

The 10-year plan follows a draft version that DEC released earlier in November of last year with expert review and sound science that DEC says will improve the management of white-tailed deer throughout the state of New York. The plan was drafted and also based on more than 2,000 submitted comments from hunters, public officials and sportsmen’s groups.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “This second-edition deer plan marks a major step forward in DEC’s effort to manage deer responsibly to protect the environment of public safety. The plan aligns public values for deer with ecological data to advance management decisions that benefit deer, deer habitats and New Yorkers.
Public comments on the final 10-year deer management plan are being accepted through August 8th by emailing: WildlifeRegs@dec.ny.gov, and the plan can be read entirely at dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.htm1#DeerPlan.

Jack Danchak is a longtime sportsman and spent 30 years as the President of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc.