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New York

Hunting

Hunting

Deer Management Permits (DMPs)

Hunters possessing a DMP may take one antlerless deer per permit in addition to any deer that may be taken with a regular hunting license or bowhunting and muzzleloading privileges.

  • DMPs may not be used for legally antlered deer (at least one antler 3" or longer).
  • DMPs may be used in any open season only in the WMU they are issued for.
  • Hunters may transfer or receive up to 2 DMPs from other hunters.

Applying for a DMP

  • DMP Application Deadline: Close of business on October 1, 2023
  • You may apply for DMPs at all license-issuing outlets, by phone, or online beginning on August 1, 2023.
  • DMPs are available to all hunters age 14 years or older who purchase or possess a regular hunting license (12 years old for Junior Bowhunting license holders).
  • There is a $10 nonrefundable application fee for all applicants. The fee is waived for holders of Lifetime Licenses purchased prior to 10/1/2009, and Junior Hunters and Junior Bowhunters.
  • Know your Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) before you apply. If you are unsure of your unit, see the WMU maps Regional Mapsor visit www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/
    8302.html
    for written boundary descriptions. You may also call the DMP Hotline for additional information at 1-866-472-4332.
  • You may apply for up to two DMPs. Both must be applied for at the same time. Application can be for DMPs in the same WMU or different WMUs.
  • Disabled veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 40% or greater (who are residents of New York) will receive preference on DMPs. Annually, you must bring a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs, dated in the current year, with your case number and your disability percentage. If you are claiming permanent disabled status, the letter must clearly state that the 40% or more service-related disability is permanent.
  • Landowners: It is illegal for more than one person per 50-plus-acre tax map ID to apply as a landowner. If you own 50 or more contiguous acres of land within the WMU you will be hunting in, you will receive preference on DMP selection. Annually, you must bring your tax map identification number and SWIS code (found on your tax bill) with you when you apply. Be sure to tell the license-issuing agent prior to applying that you are a landowner. Lessees do not qualify as landowners.
  • Corporate ownership: It is illegal for more than one person to apply as a corporate landowner no matter how many 50-acre parcels are owned. The corporation must submit an original letter or certified copy of a resolution, dated in the current year, designating one individual and must include the tax map ID and SWIS code information.
  • Group ownership: It is illegal for more than one person per 50-plus-acre tax map ID to apply as a landowner, regardless of how many co-owners. Additional 50-plus-acre parcels in the same WMU require separate tax IDs.
  • Preference points:
    • Preference points increase your chances of selection, but do not guarantee DMP selection.
    • Preference points are won and lost on first permit selection only.
    • If you receive a DMP in your first choice WMU, all available preference points will be used.
    • If you do not receive a DMP in your first choice WMU, you will receive a preference point for the following year.
    • Any preference points contained in your file are automatically applied to your first-choice WMU selection, even if preference points are not required for that unit.
    • If you do not receive your first choice, the points are applied to your second choice, but will remain in your file for the following year, regardless of your second-choice selection results.
    • Qualifying landowners and disabled veterans will receive their first choice DMP in all open WMUs.
    • Preference Points are not WMU specific. That is, if you earned a preference point by being denied in one WMU, you can use that preference point in a subsequent year when applying for a DMP in a different WMU.

DMP selection order

During the instant issuance, an applicant’s chances of selection are determined by an applicant’s category. The categories, in priority order, are as follows:

  1. Landowners (50 or more acres of land within a WMU) and Disabled Veterans (40% or more service-related disability). All applicants in this category will receive their first-choice DMP.
  2. NYS Residents and Non-residents with 3 Preference Points
  3. NYS Residents with 1–2 Preference Points
  4. NYS Residents without Preference Points
  5. Non-residents with 1–2 Preference Points
  6. Non-residents without Preference Points

Additional DMP opportunities

Bonus DMPs: If you fill a DMP in bowhunting-only WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J and 8C, you can apply for a bonus permit for another antlerless deer. Bonus permits may only be obtained from regional wildlife staff at predetermined locations. For complete information, visit our website or call a DEC Regional Wildlife Office as follows:

WMU 1C1-631-444-0310

WMU 3S1-845-256-3098

WMU 4J1-518-357-2154

WMU 8C1-585-226-5380

Leftover DMPs: If there are still permits remaining after the initial DMP instant-issuance period closes on October 1 and the back-end correction selections have occurred, the remaining DMPs may be available on a first-come-first-served basis, beginning on or around November 1. These DMPs are only available in person at license-issuing agents. Leftover DMPs will not be available by phone or online. The Wildlife Management Units with permits available will be announced by news release and on our website (www.dec.ny.gov). If you already applied for a DMP during the initial application period, there is no additional application fee. If you are applying for the first time this hunting season, you will have to pay a $10 application fee. Fee is waived for Resident and Non-resident Junior Hunters and Junior Bowhunters, and for Lifetime License holders who purchased prior to October 1, 2009. You will be allowed up to two DMPs during the first-come-first-served application period in addition to any you may have received during the initial application period.

Deer Management Assistance Program

The Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) enables wildlife biologists to help landowners and resource managers implement site-specific deer management on their lands. In doing so, DEC issues a special permit for use only during the open deer hunting seasons and a determined number of antlerless deer tags to landowners or resource managers whose property is in need of site-specific deer management efforts. Hunters are expected to report their harvest. For more information on the program, refer to www.dec.ny.gov/animals/33973.html.

Chances of DMP Selection

Your chances of selection for first and second DMPs by Wildlife Management Unit are available online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30409.html, posted at all License Issuing Outlets or by calling our Deer Management Permit hotline at 1-866-472-4332. Chances of DMP selection remain the same throughout the entire DMP application period.