This came through The Outdoor Wire this morning and I opened it with fervor. I had briefly heard of NYS DEC wanting to ban hunting scents a couple years ago, but I thought it had died. Living in California, I should have known things like this never die, they are simply dormant for a while. How do you feel about banning natural deer scents? I am very open to hearing both sides, I just don’t think it’s cool to see the DEC try to float this under the radar without giving the public full transparency. If you have any input, please be sure to share it with the NYS DEC.
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The New York DEC is updating their Deer Management Plan (https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/deerplandraft1120.pdf) Most of the plan is constructive and focused, and you may have seen news releases encouraging hunters to support it. However, what is not mentioned in the public announcement is that the plan includes recommendation for a COMPLETE BAN ON NATURAL HUNTING SCENT (see pages 56-62).
Advocates within DEC proposed a scent ban three years ago, and the scent ban proposal “generated the most attention” (NYS CWD Minimization Plan, p.36). The comprehensive ban was removed from the plan at that time. Given the attention the issue generated then it is surprising that the DEC slipped this section into their current plan without mentioning it to the public and released it during a pandemic in the month leading to the Holidays.
Interested hunters and hunting product businesses are encouraged to engage and offer comment to the plan in opposition to the scent ban.
Email: wildlife@dec.ny.gov Mail: DEC Deer Plan, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754
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