Region 8 - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

NEW YORK STATE 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 

Region 8 

2012 Deer Hunting Forecast 

Occupying the center third of Western New York from Lake Ontario to the Pennsylvania line, Region 8 is an ideal 

mix of deer habitats; productive rolling agricultural land with small woodlots to the north (the Lake Plains 

ecozone), and higher elevation wooded hills interspersed with valley farmland to the south (Appalachian Plateau 

ecozone). This mix produces not only some of the highest deer densities in the state, but some of the biggest 

deer as well. 

Harvests were up in all categories in Region 8 last fall; +5.8% for adult bucks (22,754), +1.1% for antlerless deer 

(34,909), and +2.9% overall (57,663). Regional buck takes have risen four of the last six years now, and although 

they have not done so dramatically, they do indicate a gradual increase in our herd over that time. 

Our six northern Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) located in the Lake Plains all have deer populations higher 

than we’d like them to be, and a history of plentiful Deer Management Permits (DMPs). 2012 will be a 

continuation of both those trends in the north. Populations in our nine Appalachian Plateau units to the south 

have a mixed stranding in relation to objectives though, and permit availability there will range from plentiful to 

fairly restricted, depending on the unit (see Unit Summaries below). 

The buck take was up in ten of our fifteen WMUs, down in four, and unchanged in one. Nine of our 15 units are 

now at or above objectives, four are under, and two are right where they should be. Reflecting an ongoing need 

to reduce populations , particularly in the northern half of the region, overall DMP numbers will be up about 

16% this fall, with over 219,000 permits available for Region 8 hunters. 

In general, 2012 should be a banner year for Region 8 deer hunters. Last winter’s exceedingly mild conditions 

established a new benchmark for just how easy a winter could be for wildlife, and deer made it through in 

excellent condition. Does feeding well all winter long resulted in a large crop of some very healthy fawns added 

to the landscape this past spring. 

Unit Summaries for the 2012 Season 

Included in the discussion of most WMUs is a term called the Buck Take Objective (BTO). A BTO for a WMU is 

the desired number of antlered bucks expected to be harvested per square mile when the WMU’s deer 

population is at the desired level as determined by the Citizen Task Force. The BTO is not the estimated take for 

the coming season but rather is the objective of our management efforts. The annual buck harvest is used as a 

gauge of population size and its relationship to the desired population level. 

pg. 1

WMU 8A 

Area = 419 mile 2 

BTO = 2.1 bucks harvested per mile 2 

2011 Buck Take = 2.6 bucks harvested per mile 2 

2011Total Deer Take = 7.2 deer harvested per mile 2 

WMU 8A is situated primarily in northern Orleans and 

Monroe Counties and contains very little public land. 

The terrain is mostly flat to gently rolling and has an 

abundance of agriculture interspersed with small 

woodlots, making for excellent habitat and large deer. 

The buck take didn’t move at all last fall, staying at 2.6 

bucks per square mile. The population remains above the objective, where it has been for some time. A record 

doe harvest in 2010 may send the buck take down some this fall, but it won’t be by much, and hunters will 

scarcely notice a change in the number of deer they see in the woods. Permit availability will be identical to last 

year; HIGH for both first and second permits for all applicant categories, including non-residents. 

WMU 8C 


BTO = None 

2011Buck Take = 0.9 bucks harvested per mile 2 


WMU 8C is a small "bowhunting only" unit 

surrounding the City of Rochester in Monroe County 

and has historically harbored a high deer population 

relative to the associated human development. Deer 

harvest here is governed largely by land access, not 

number of permits available, and there is no shortage 

of deer for those willing to hunt the fringes of “suburbia”. If desired, anyone applying for a DMP should receive 

two permits. Chances of success remain high in 8C, but because hunting access is limited, applicants are advised 

to secure a hunting location before applying for DMPs. It is also a good idea to check local ordinances regarding 

the discharge of bows. Note also that deer hunters in this unit must have passed a Bowhunter Education course, 

and the only legal hunting implement, for all big game seasons, is bow and arrow. To assist in reducing the 

growth of this deer population, Bonus Permits will be available for hunters who fill their WMU 8C DMPs. Those 

hunters taking antlerless deer on Bonus Permits may continue to receive additional Bonus Permits as long as 

they continue to be used to harvest antlerless deer. Chances of selection this fall will be high for residents and 

nonresidents on both first and second permits. 

pg. 2

WMU 8F 




2011 Total Deer Take = 9.2 deer harvested per mile 2 

WMU 8F occupies most of Wayne and a portion of 

Monroe County and contains a good deal of 

agriculture, including significant orchard acreage. The 

lay of the land is flat to rolling in the north with 

numerous drumlins (glacially carved hills) in the 

south. Large wetlands and significant forest cover 

exist, particularly in the northeast portion of the unit. There is ample public hunting land in eastern 8F. The buck 

take last fall in 8F shot up 14% to 3.3 bucks per square mile, and represents an historic high for the unit. The 

highest doe harvest on record two years ago should temper population growth some, but not nearly enough to 

bring this unit’s deer population down to objective. A positive historical relationship between DMPs issued and 

DMP harvest suggests that increasing permit numbers is a logical choice in this unit; such a relationship is not 

always the case in all units. Chances of selection this fall will be high for residents and nonresidents on both first 

and second permits. 

WMU 8G 





WMU 8G comprises most of Genesee County and the 

southern portion of Orleans County. It contains a 

large expanse of state and federal land in the western 

part of the unit. This unit has some of the region's 

best agricultural land, and the deer habitat here is 

among the most productive in the state. Land is flat to gently rolling, with small wood lots interspersed with 

farms and wetlands. Buck harvest rose two tenths last fall, to a new unit record of 3.6 per square mile. Suffice 

to say, this population is still above the harvest objective of 2.3 bucks per square mile. A record doe harvest in 

2010 should temper growth, but don’t look for there to be noticeably less deer when on stand this fall; changes 

will be slight, if any. A record number of DMPs will be available for 8G hunters this fall, and chances of receiving 

first and second permits will be high for all categories of applicants. 

WMU 8H 





WMU 8H includes parts of Livingston, Monroe, and 

Ontario Counties and has limited public land 

pg. 3

accessible for hunting. This is another typical Lake Plains unit; in other words, an ideal mix of habitat with big 

healthy deer and a productive population that has resisted our efforts at herd reduction. The buck harvest in 8H 

rose once again last year, and now stands at 4.3, over 50% above objective. Three years now of ever-increasing 

doe takes, capped with last fall’s record number, should begin to stop the expansion, if not by this fall, then by 

2013. 8H has super deer habitat, with plenty of agriculture, and it is proving to be, like many of its surrounding 

Lake Plains units, a difficult area to reign in the deer population. Deer hunting will be great in 8H this fall. A 

record number of DMPs will be available, with chances of selection high on first and second permits for all 

categories of applicants. 

WMU 8J 





WMU 8J includes portions of Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, 

and Yates Counties, and a moderate amount of public 

hunting land available. A lot of agriculture exists here, 

and WMU 8J has a history of producing big healthy 

deer with some of the biggest antler beam diameters 

in the region. The buck take has risen three straight years now in 8J, and now stands at 3.0 per square mile, 

some 43% above the objective of 2.1. In response, we’ll offer even more DMPs than we did last year, but, like 

most of our northern units, it will be an uphill battle finding enough hunters to fill them. Hunters can expect 

there to be plenty of deer in 8J this fall, and hunting prospects will be excellent. Almost 25,000 permits will be 

available for 8J deer hunters this fall, and chances of selection will be high for both resident and nonresident 

applicants in all categories. 

WMU 8M 





WMU 8M is situated primarily within southern 

Livingston County and holds plenty of public land. A 

transitional unit between our Lake Plains and 

Southern Tier ecozones, there is both open 

agricultural land to the north and higher, wooded hills 

to the south. Even though the buck take went down slightly last fall, to 3.5 per square mile, the trend since 

2005’s low point has been gradually up. From a biologist’s perspective, this slow, steady upward movement 

toward objective is preferable to wide population swings, as it lends more stability and predictability to our 

management. We have every reason to believe 8M will be very close to our population objective within the 

next few years. A relatively low doe harvest in 2010 should allow the population to take a tick up this season, 

but changes in the woods will be hard to notice, and hunters can expect a similar year to last. Chances of DMP 

selection will be high for residents seeking first permits, but there will be no second permits or permits for 

nonresidents this year. 

pg. 4

WMU 8N 





WMU 8N includes southern Ontario and portions of 

Livingston and Yates Counties. Many diverse public 

hunting opportunities exist in this largely wooded and 

hilly Western Finger Lakes unit. After several years of 

buck takes near the objective of 4.6 per square mile, 

the 8N deer population is once again on the move, 

and in a big way. Last fall’s buck harvest (an index to 

the overall population) shot from 5.0 up to 5.9 per square mile, an almost unprecedented one year increase for 

a WMU. This is of great concern to us, as 8N has a history of quick expansions. Returning to the kind of buck 

takes we saw ten years ago (7 to 8 bucks per square mile) would be a step back for the diversity of vegetation in 

the unit, as well as for folks trying to make their living growing things there. The good news is that hunters will 

see more deer in the woods this fall. From a management perspective, the down side is that a relatively low doe 

harvest two years ago will allow the deer population in 8N to go even higher in 2013. We need to take as many 

deer as we legally can in this unit, and do it now. Chances of permit selection this fall will be high for both 

resident and nonresident applicants in all categories. 

WMU 8P 





WMU 8P is located in northern Steuben County and 

contains a fair amount of public land. The terrain is 

rolling to hilly, and the unit sports a balanced mix of 

both farm land and forest. The buck take in 8P came 

up a little last fall, to 3.4 per square mile (indicating a 

slightly increasing population), but the unit is still well below the objective, as it has been since 2004. Doe 

harvests the last two years were very low, and we could be looking at noticeably more deer on the landscape by 

2013 as a result. But the unit has been fairly unresponsive to relatively low adult female harvests before, so our 

current recourse is to keep DMP numbers low again this year. Chances of selection will be high on first permits 

for residents only. No other permits will be available. 

pg. 5

WMU 8R 





WMU 8R includes most of Yates County, as well as 

parts of Steuben and Schuyler Counties, and has a fair 

amount of public hunting land. Large rolling hills 

predominate, with an ample amount of farmland in 

the valleys and hill tops, including significant vineyard 

acreage. After a four-year stretch near objective in 

the mid 2000s, the buck take has now risen five straight years, and currently stands at 5.7 per square mile, up 

from 5.2 last year. A very aggressive female harvest in 2010 should help put the brakes on population 

expansion, but this unit has shown the ability for quick growth, and like 8N, is on the verge of getting out of 

hand. We will need to put continued high pressure on the female segment of the herd in the coming years. We 

anticipate the buck take to be similar to last year, or a little higher, which means hunters will continue to see lots 

of deer in the fields and woods of 8R. Chances of DMP selection will be high for residents and nonresidents on 

both first and second permits. 

WMU 8S 



2011Buck Take = 3.4 bucks harvested per mile 2 


WMU 8S includes portions of Schuyler and Seneca 

Counties and is home to the Finger Lakes National 

Forest, a large tract of federal land open to hunting. 

Agriculture is the main land use in this unit except in 

the southwest where the public land is located. 

Topography is flat in most of the unit except for the southwest corner. A lowering of this unit’s BTO in 2009 from 

4.2 to 2.8 has meant that for the last two years, we have been slightly over objective in 8S, after a lengthy 

stretch below. The buck take stayed steady last fall at 3.4 per square mile, indicating a stable population, even if 

it is a little over the objective of 2.8. We are currently employing a mild reducing strategy in the unit in an effort 

to bring down the buck take to objective level. This means there will be marginally more permits available this 

fall, but not drastically so. Hunters in 8S should expect to see similar numbers of deer this fall. Chances of 

selection will be high on first permits for both residents and non-residents. The availability of second permits 

for residents will be low. No second permits for non-residents will be available. 

pg. 6

WMU 8T 





WMU 8T is in central Steuben County and has ample 

public hunting land available. It is a typical southern 

tier unit in that it is hilly, with a mix of agriculture in 

the valleys, and forested slopes. This unit has not 

been above the buck harvest objective since 2002 

despite at least eight years of fairly low doe harvests. 

A reduction in female take in 2010, and again last year should, in theory, allow the population to come up, but 

8T has been very resistant to our efforts to grow deer numbers. Hunters here can expect similar deer sightings 

as last year, or perhaps a few more. This fall, permit availability will be at its lowest point since 2005 to try and 

induce some change. Chances of selection this year will be low on first permits for residents only. No other 

permits will be available. 

WMU 8W 





WMU 8W includes portions of Chemung and Schuyler 

Counties and holds abundant public hunting 

opportunities. 8W is one of our most forested units, 

but open farmland does exist, particularly in the north 

and east portions of the unit. The buck take in WMU 

8W has been below objective since 2003, but is showing signs lately of upward movement. Buck take per square 

mile rose three tenths last fall, up to 3.2, on top of a similar increase seen in 2010. We anticipate buck take will 

go up again this fall, making three straight years if our predictions are correct. Our strategy here is to keep 

DMPs (and thus doe harvest) relatively low, to foster the upward trend we are seeing. Hunters in 8W may see a 

few more deer in the woods this fall, but increases will likely not be dramatic. Chances of first permit selection 

will be high for residents, but non-residents will require preference points. No second permits will be available. 

WMU 8X 





WMU 8X is located in southern Steuben County and 

has a fair amount of public land available. The unit is 

hilly, with its highest elevations and most forest cover 

in the northern portion. A good deal of farm land 

pg. 7

occurs in the southern valleys, particularly along portions of the New York-Pennsylvania border. Holding the 

current situation stable is the order of the day in 8X as we have been very close to our population goal now for 

the last three years. Buck take per square mile came down two tenths last fall, but it is still right about where 

we want it to be, indicating a stable population. Since the population is where it should be, our strategy is to 

maintain the doe harvests seen the last few years. Hunters in 8X should expect to see similar numbers of deer 

this fall. Chances of DMP selection will be high on first permits for both residents and nonresidents, but 

preference points will be required for resident second permits. No second permits will be available for 

nonresidents. 

WMU 8Y 





WMU 8Y occupies the southern half of Chemung and 

a small portion of Steuben County and has very 

limited public hunting opportunities. It is another of 

our most heavily forested units, but also contains the 

relatively large cities of Corning and Elmira. 8W has 

spent a good number of years below objective now, since 2003. The buck take has risen the last two years 

though, and we anticipate it will increase again this fall, but it won’t be up near objective just yet. As in any unit 

whose population is lower than desired, our strategy will simply be to hold DMPs relatively low until we see a 

response by way of increased buck harvest. Still, chances of selection will be high on first permits for both 

residents and non-residents. Chances on second permits for residents will be medium. No second permits will 

be available for non-residents. 

Art Kirsch 

Region 8 Deer Biologist 

pg. 8

Region 8 - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

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