Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced today that the deadline for deer management permits (DMPs) is October 1st. Hunters that have secured a hunting license are eligible to apply for up to two deer management permits that may be used to harvest antlerless deer from a specified Wildlife Management Unit. Antlerless deer harvest is crucial in helping to balance the deer herd with available habitat.

Sporting licenses and permits for the 2017-18 license year have been available since August 1 and can be obtained at any one of the DEC's 1,300 license issuing outlets, by phone at 866-933-2257, or online through the DEC website. The DEC's computerized licensing system allows hunters to know immediately whether or not they were selected to receive their deer management permits. Hunters must apply for DMPs by October 1, and should review their chances of selection before applying. The application fee for deer management permits is $10.

The DEC would also like to remind hunters to report the harvest of any deer, bear, or turkey taken this fall. Harvest reporting is the law and is critical to wildlife management. Remember: Take It, Tag It, Report It! The DEC website has more information on reporting game harvest.

In addition, hunters are reminded to follow basic firearm safety rules and wear hunter orange. Finally, when going afield, hunters are asked to take precautions to avoid ticks and tick-borne illnesses by applying insect repellent with DEET, bathing or showering as soon as possible after spending time in the woods, and conducting a full-body tick check.