Photo Credit: DEC and LIDeerManagement.com
Controversy grows over the DEC's decision to curb deer overpopulation by accepting deer management hunting permits in Suffolk County.
September 26th, 2025
Written by Andrea Chen
The Long Island deer population has been exponentially growing with rising controversy over the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's decision to accept deer management permits (DMP) for antlerless deer hunting. They are accepting annual applications through October 1st for Suffolk County. NYS deer hunting licenses are also now on sale for the hunting season (September 1, 2025 - May 2026). All licensed big game hunters ages 12 and older can apply for a DMP. Requirements are listed on their website and online applications can be submitted through the DECALs system by clicking this link.
The DEC strives to "manage deer populations at levels that are in balance with available habitat and in alignment with public desires by incentivizing harvest of antlerless deer by hunters."
Antlerless deer are primarily female and according to the DEC, the major factor in increasing population. There are strict hunting restrictions each year with the DEC adjusting the number of antlerless deer tags that are made available to hunters in every Wildlife Management Unit (WMU), by allocating DMPs. Each hunter that has a DMP may take one additional antlerless deer.
Leslie Lupo, a wildlife biologist with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, says that "we've been concerned about deer overpopulation for quite some time...deer have evolved as a prey species, so they have a high reproductive output and we don't have the predators that they evolve with", such as wolves and mountain lions.
Negative Impact of Deer Overpopulation on Long Island
- increased tick population that leads to the spread of tick-borne diseases
- average $59 million crop damage across New York each year and significant loss to farmers and consumers
- increased costly deer-vehicle accidents (more than 70,000 incidents a year in New York with $4,000 as the national average cost of a deer crash, according to State Farm)
- increased presence in suburban areas
- eating vegetation and shrubs on private property
- degrading forest health, causing ecological damage and reducing biodiversity
- causing harm to other species that compete with deer for food
Alternative Solutions to Deer Hunting
Critics of the DEC's decision include John Di Leonardo, President and Executive Director of Humane Long Island, who believes that "killing is not conservation". Some of his suggestions include:
- immuno-contraception to decrease numbers
- put up deer fencing
- plant native vegetation that is naturally resistant to deer
- use natural remedies like soap or playing the radio to deter deer from your home
Do you agree with the DEC that regulated hunting is the practical solution to curb deer overpopulation and prevent its negative impact on Long Island?