New York sees lowest deer harvesting numbers since 2017: DEC report

( WETM ) — Totals from New York’s deer-hunting season are in with New Yorkers killing more than 200,000 deer across the state, with Steuben County once again harvesting more deer than any other county in the state.

According to new information from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation , 209,781 deer were hunted and harvested at the end of the 2023 hunting season, the lowest harvested across the state since 2017 when only 203,427 were hunted. These numbers cover bow hunting, rifle hunting, muzzleloader hunting, and youth hunting.

Steuben County broke the total harvested numbers in 2022 by posting 14,295 deer hunted during the 2023 season compared to 13,587 in 2022. Of those animals harvested, 6,949 were adult males, 1,353 were fawn males, 4,762 were adult females, and 1,231 were fawn females. The report shows that Steuben County has more adult male deer per square mile than any other county in the state at 5.0.

The state saw a drop in the number of bucks and doe taken in 2023 but did see a rise in the number of older bucks taken at 67.9% in 2023 compared to 64% in 2022. The number of buck fawns taken in 2023 rose from 12.8% in 2022 to 14% in 2023.

Despite the total numbers falling in 2023, the hunter reporting rate went up to 49.9% in 2023 compared to 46.4% in 2022.

The other counties and the numbers harvested can be found below:

Chemung County

• Total – 2,578
• Adult males – 1,390
• Male fawns – 178
• Adult females – 851
• Female fawn – 159

Tioga County

• Total – 3,153
• Adult males -1,587
• Male fawns – 225
• Adult females – 1,147
• Female fawns – 194

Tompkins County

• Total – 3,150
• Adult males – 1,568
• Male fawns – 233
• Adult females – 1,152
• Female fawns – 197

Yates County

• Total – 4,384
• Adult males – 1,930
• Male fawns – 367
• Adult Females – 1,780
• Female fawns – 317

Schuyler County

• Total – 3,504
• Adult males – 1,618
• Male fawns – 276
• Adult females – 1,371
• Female fawns – 239

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