http://www.senatorvolker.com/press_archive_story.asp?id=11715Senator Dale M. Volker (R-I-C, Depew) today announced that Governor
George E. Pataki has enacted his bill into law (S.918), which would
allow sportsmen to hunt deer and bear in the southern tier counties
with rifles.
"This new law is a common sense approach to humanely thinning out our
deer herds, stopping the spread of Lyme Disease in many Southern Tier
counties and allows sportsmen and sportswomen to have enhanced
opportunities in participating in our cultural heritage," said
Senator Dale M. Volker. For several years, the growth in the
population of deer in the Southern Tier has been profound, Many
within our wildlife management organizations have been urging the
State Legislature to enact this legislation so as to mitigate
economic losses to our residents and to save lives as well," "By
allowing rifle hunting for deer and bear in this region of our state,
we can humanely lower the deer population as they often die of
starvation. It will also prevent human deaths from automobile
accidents that have been rising from vehicles hitting deer on our
highways, and also see a reduction in the spread of Lyme Disease
throughout the State of New York, which is often spread by deer ticks."
Senator Volker's bill, which goes into effect immediately, would
allow hunters to use rifles during open season for deer and bear in
the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chenango, Herkimer,
Montgomery, Oneida, Oswego, Otsego, Schoharie and Tioga, as well as
certain rural towns on Broome County in those areas east of the
Susquehanna River.
There are more deer in New York State than there were 10 years ago
and there are fewer deer hunters than in previous years. Crop damage
and deer and automotive collision is increasing by significant
numbers and it is costing New York State taxpayers millions of
dollars in damages. Expanding the law to include hunting with rifles
in the Southern Tier counties may help control the deer population in
those areas and simultaneously stimulate economic activity for area
businesses. Additionally, the firearms that have been traditionally
legal for hunting big game have become safer and less damaging to the animal.
This legislation was sponsored and passed in the State Assembly by
Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte.
