Purpose of DDPs
Agricultural, horticultural and silvicultural damage, impacts to biodiversity and native plant communities, and threats to human health and safety are consequences often associated with high deer populations, especially where population control through hunting is not adequate. Site-specific deer damage to residential gardens, high-value crops, or rare native plants are most effectively solved with exclusion fencing. However, this can be expensive and often cannot be justified for short-term mitigation. Various repellents can reduce short-term damage in areas of low deer densities, although they can be expensive and require routine re-application. Various scare devices may also provide short-term relief under certain circumstances.
DEC issues DDPs to landowners or their representatives in situations where:
- Deer damage to agriculture, tree farms/orchards/nurseries, communities or residential areas, or parks and preserves exists, is ongoing or is likely to occur;
- Other methods to abate the damage are not successful, practical, appropriate, or sufficient;
- The permit conditions can be legally carried out; and
- Lethal removal of or harassing deer may abate damage.
A variety of non-hunting related techniques can be permitted under DDPs including harassment techniques, shooting at night, use of bait, etc. Surgical sterilization of deer, as part of an integrated deer management program that also includes lethal removal, may also be permitted. Most DDPs are issued for the removal of antlerless deer only. Capture and relocation methods are not covered under DDPs.
Consult a regional DEC Big Game Biologist to help determine which DDP techniques and approaches would be most effective to address the situation.
DDP Eligibility
Eligibility for DDPs is based on demonstrated deer damage and the lack or failure of other practical alternatives to reduce the damage. Applications from municipalities, universities, or non-governmental organizations must include a management plan that provides information on how success of the management effort and change in damage will be assessed, and should specify how venison will be distributed. Applications are free and there is no deadline.
Responsibilities of DDP Permittees
Permit Conditions and Tags
DDP tags are provided to the permittee for the number of deer approved to be removed under the permit. Any unused tags must be destroyed. Any permit activity outside of those lands or conditions authorized under the permit is prohibited and will result in revocation of the permit and denial of any DDP requests by the permittee for one year.
Reporting
All DDP permittees must report their permit activity to DEC within 10 business days after the expiration of the permit. Details on how to report are included on each DDP. Late reporting may result in the denial of any DDP requests by the permittee for one year.
Agents
Deer may only be taken by the permittee and their approved agents. The permittee must maintain a log with the name and contact information for every agent acting under the permit, and provide the log to DEC upon request. All agents must sign the log, which must contain a statement that they agree to comply with all permit conditions. When the United States Department of Agriculture – Wildlife Services is designated as the agent, a list of individual agents is not required as any trained Wildlife Services employee can serve as an agent. An agent who is contracted, employed, or receives payment by a permittee for the primary purpose of removing deer must be a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO). However, if the agent is employed by the permittee and their primary job duties are not to remove deer, the agent is not required to have a NWCO license to occasionally harass or take deer. If an agent violates any DDP conditions, they will be prohibited from acting as an agent on any DDP for a period of at least one year.
