DELHI _ Deer-antler restrictions will be discussed at a meeting at 7 tonight held by the Delaware County Department of Economic Development at 2 Sheldon Drive in Delhi.
The department has invited the state Department of Environmental Conservation Region 4 big-game biologists to give a presentation on antler restrictions.
They will discuss antler-restriction details and report on the first three years of the pilot program in Ulster County, officials said.
The presentation will include statistics on age composition and deer take and also a survey on hunter satisfaction conducted by Cornell University. A question-and-answer period will follow.
"If you have an opinion on antler restrictions in Delaware County's wildlife management units, this is the time to be heard," Bill Willis, economic development spokesman, said in a media release.
New antler restrictions mean for a buck to be legal, it would have to have three points on one side, Willis said. The current regulation require a single antler of 3 inches to be legal, Willis said.
Willis said youths 16 and younger would be exempt from this change. The purpose of the change would allow more bucks to reach maturity, thus improving the buck-to-doe ratio and creating more interest in deer hunting in Delaware County.
The change would improve the economic importance of hunting for Delaware County businesses, Willis said.
For information or directions, call Willis at 746-8595 or e-mail william.willis@co.delaware.ny.us.
