The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced it will operate a deer and bear check station on Route 16 in the town of Holland, Erie County, during the opening weekend of the regular big game season.
DEC Region 9 Wildlife Manager Anne Rothrock said, “With just a few minutes of their time, hunters in Western New York who visit the check station can help inform DEC’s big game harvest research and provide DEC with valuable biological data to study the region’s big game populations. DEC staff also enjoy the opportunity to interact with hunters and hear about their opening weekend experiences.”
The Region 9 check station will be open Saturday, Nov. 15, from noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The location is on Route 16 northbound, about one mile south of Holland. Hunters are encouraged to bring harvested deer and bear so DEC staff can determine age and collect biological and harvest information.
Due to concerns about possible reductions in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, DEC is urging hunters to consider donating their harvests to Feeding New York State. Deer donations can be made at the Holland check station before 6 p.m. on both Nov. 15 and Nov. 16. More details about venison donation are available in DEC’s annual Hunting and Trapping Guide or on its website.
Participation at check stations is voluntary but helps the agency gather data used to assess local big game populations. In addition to operating these stations, DEC collects information by visiting facilities that process venison for hunters across New York each year.
Hunters are reminded of their obligation to report all harvests as part of wildlife management efforts. For those using paper tags: “Paper Tags: Take it, Tag it, Report it!” For e-tags: “E-tags: Take it, Report it, Tag it if You Leave it!” According to DEC guidelines, e-tag users must electronically tag any deer, bear or turkey immediately after harvest using the HuntFishNY mobile app; no physical tag needs to be attached while in possession of the animal unless left unattended.
