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S 9462

Relates to deer management permits; repealer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie and 1 co-sponsor

The bill allows the DEC to issue deer management permits granting one extra deer per license year, through 2027, where needed to balance deer herds with habitat.

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Bill Summary · S 9462

Summary of Bill S. 9462 (2025-2026) – New York

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill amends the Environmental Conservation Law to modify provisions related to deer management permits and repeals a related provision. Its core aim is to expand or clarify temporary authorization for additional deer harvest in certain areas in order to manage deer populations in balance with available habitat and food supply.
  • The effective date is immediate.

Key Provisions and Changes

  1. Deer Management Permits Expansion (Temporary Additional Harvest)

    • Reinstates and extends the department’s authority to issue deer management permits that allow the taking of one additional deer per permit, beyond the standard limit of one deer per license year.
    • This authority applies until December 31, 2027.
    • The condition for issuing these permits remains: the Department must determine, in its opinion, that additional harvest is reasonably necessary to properly manage the deer herd in balance with the available deer range and natural food supply.
    • The language indicates these permits can be issued in areas where such management is deemed necessary, expanding beyond the usual annual limit for harvest per person.

  2. Northern Zone Provision Clarification

    • The bill retains a provision related to the Northern Zone, but with modifications to how certain sections apply to land areas. It clarifies regulatory authority to describe land areas more precisely in rules or regulations.
    • A prior clause restricting the Northern Zone (as defined by existing law) from applying this provision is amended; the bill allows for clearer description and regulation of areas where deer management permits may be used.

  3. Repeal of Subdivision 9 (Section 11-0913)

    • Subdivision 9 of section 11-0913 is repealed. The text does not specify, in the excerpt provided, what Subdivision 9 contained, but its repeal indicates removing a previously existing provision related to deer management permits or related regulatory language.

  4. Effective Date

    • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who/What is Affected

  • State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): Authority to issue deer management permits with an additional harvest allowance remains in force through December 31, 2027, under the conditions stated.
  • Deer Hunters and Licensees: May be eligible for an additional deer harvest under a deer management permit, beyond the standard annual quota, in areas where the DEC determines additional harvest is necessary.
  • Geographic Areas (Deer Management Areas/Northern Zone): Provisions apply to areas designated by the DEC; the bill clarifies regulatory descriptions of land areas within which these permits may be issued, with particular attention to the Northern Zone.
  • General Public/Environment: The policy intent is to balance deer populations with habitat and food resources, potentially affecting wildlife management outcomes and related ecological systems.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced and referred to the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee on March 13, 2026.
  • Advanced through the normal legislative process:
    • 1st Report Calendar: May 5, 2026
    • 2nd Report Calendar: May 6, 2026
    • Advanced to Third Reading: May 7, 2026
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.

Notes for Readers

  • The bill provides a temporary expansion (through 2027) of the deer harvest limit per permit, contingent on DEC findings about population stability and habitat capacity.
  • The repeal of a subdivision suggests a simplification or removal of a prior regulatory element; the exact content of Subdivision 9 is not included in the text provided.
  • The Northern Zone treatment indicates ongoing attention to regional management differences; readers should consult DEC regulations for precise geographic applicability and any zone-specific rules.

If you’d like, I can pull out the exact regulatory implications for hunters in a specific county or deer management unit once DEC maps or designations are available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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