The New York DEC Looks to Reduce Deer Numbers in the Beaver Meadow State Forest

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has Deer Management Assistance Permits for the Beaver Meadow State Forest in Chenango County.  Hunters must apply in person.  The licenses are available between 7am and 3 p-m at the D-E-C office on State Highway 80 in Sherburne.

Officials say foresters have determined that browsing deer in the over 5,800 acres of state land in the towns of Smynra and Otselic are negatively impacting the forest beyond what traditional hunting and forest management can address.

The Deer Management Assistance Program tags are available for use on the forest land during regular and bow hunting seasons.

The tags are to be loaned out for two-week periods that are determined in an on-going lottery.

For more information, contact the Sherburne Lands and Forests office at (607) 674-4017.

The DMAP application for Beaver Meadow State Forest is available online at www.dec.ny.gov/lands/66900.

Information about the property, including a map of the forest can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/lands/8249.