STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9023--B
IN SENATE
April 10, 2024
___________
Introduced by Sen. MATTERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
establishing a town of Huntington deer management pilot program; and
providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a
2 new section 11-0522-b to read as follows:
3 § 11-0522-b. Town of Huntington deer management pilot program.
4 1. For the purposes of this section, "nuisance wildlife specialist"
5 shall mean an employee of or a contractor for the federal or state
6 government responsible for wildlife management acting pursuant to a deer
7 management plan and deer cull permit. A nuisance wildlife specialist
8 must be in compliance with criteria established by the department that
9 at a minimum shall require:
10 a. a minimum level of marksmanship qualifications appropriate to the
11 firearm or hunting implement to be used;
12 b. liability insurance coverage or other financial arrangements iden-
13 tified by the department;
14 c. a copy of the cull permit and a copy of the log of nuisance wild-
15 life specialists using the permit, be on the nuisance wildlife special-
16 ist's person when exercising any privilege of such permit; and
17 d. reporting requirements.
18 2. The department may, after reviewing the town of Huntington's cull
19 permit application and site-specific deer management plan, and upon a
20 finding by the town of Huntington that deer have become a nuisance,
21 destructive to public or private property or a threat to public health
22 or welfare, issue a deer cull permit for use within the boundaries of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13879-07-4
S. 9023--B 2
1 the town of Huntington, authorizing use of a nuisance wildlife special-
2 ist to take deer pursuant to the terms of the deer cull permit.
3 3. Each cull permit application shall at a minimum include require-
4 ments for: the timeframe during which the permit must be used, a site-
5 specific deer management plan, a geographic description of the area for
6 which the permit is being requested, a written contract with the town of
7 Huntington, a list which identifies participating nuisance wildlife
8 specialists and eligibility based on the criteria established by the
9 department, provided by the city of Syracuse, requests for any authori-
10 zation pursuant to subdivisions three-a and eleven of section 11-0505 of
11 this title, subdivision two-a of section 11-0901 of this article, and
12 subdivisions two-a and four-a of section 11-0931 of this article,
13 provided that any such authorization subsequently granted shall be
14 explicitly included on any cull permit, and details regarding expected
15 local law enforcement consultation.
16 4. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring or obligat-
17 ing the department to issue a permit to take deer when in its opinion
18 the nuisance, destruction of property or threat to public health and
19 welfare will not be effectively abated thereby.
20 § 2. Subdivisions 3, 9 and 10 of section 11-0505 of the environmental
21 conservation law, subdivision 3 as separately amended by chapters 683
22 and 704 of the laws of 2023, paragraph b of subdivision 3 and subdivi-
23 sion 9 as amended by chapter 65 of the laws of 2024, and paragraph c of
24 subdivision 3 and subdivision 10 as amended by chapter 83 of the laws of
25 2024, are amended to read as follows:
26 3. No deer or bear traps shall be made, set or used upon land inhabit-
27 ed by deer or bear. No salt lick shall be made, set or used upon land
28 inhabited by deer or bear, except that:
29 a. the department may do so on state wildlife refuges and wildlife
30 management areas; and
31 b. a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to
32 [section 11-0522 of] this title may do so provided that such activities
33 are in furtherance of the site-specific deer management plan.
34 [c. a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to
35 section 11-0522-a of this title may do so provided that such activities
36 are in furtherance of the site-specific deer management plan.]
37 9. A nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to
38 [section 11-0522 of] this title may, in accordance with the parameters
39 of such permit and the consultation of local law enforcement, entice
40 deer in the manner prohibited in subdivision eight of this section
41 provided that such activities are in furtherance of the site-specific
42 deer management plan.
43 [10. A nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to
44 section 11-0522-a of] this title may, in accordance with the parameters
45 of such permit and the consultation of local law enforcement, entice
46 deer in the manner prohibited in subdivision eight of this section
47 provided that such activities are in furtherance of the site-specific
48 deer management plan.]
49 § 2-a. Subdivision 3 of section 11-0505 of the environmental conserva-
50 tion law, as amended by chapter 135 of the laws of 1982, is amended and
51 a new subdivision 9 is added to read as follows:
52 3. No deer or bear traps shall be made, set or used upon land inhabit-
53 ed by deer or bear. No salt lick shall be made, set or used upon land
54 inhabited by deer or bear, except that:
55 a. the department may do so on state wildlife refuges and wildlife
56 management areas; and
S. 9023--B 3
1 b. a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to
2 this title may do so provided that such activities are in furtherance of
3 the site-specific deer management plan.
4 9. A nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to
5 this title may, in accordance with the parameters of such permit and the
6 consultation of local law enforcement, entice deer in the manner prohib-
7 ited in subdivision eight of this section provided that such activities
8 are in furtherance of the site-specific deer management plan.
9 § 3. Subdivision 2 of section 11-0901 of the environmental conserva-
10 tion law, as separately amended by chapters 683 and 704 of the laws of
11 2023, paragraph b as amended by chapter 65 of the laws of 2024, and
12 paragraph c as amended by chapter 83 of the laws of 2024, is amended to
13 read as follows:
14 2. Wildlife shall not be taken on or from any public highway, except:
15 a. that in the forest preserve counties it may be taken from highways
16 other than state, county or town highways; and
17 b. by a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to
18 [section 11-0522 of] this article provided that such activities are in
19 furtherance of the site-specific deer management plan.
20 [c. by a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to
21 section 11-0522-a of this article provided that such activities are in
22 furtherance of the site-specific deer management plan.]
23 § 3-a. Subdivision 2 of section 11-0901 of the environmental conserva-
24 tion law is amended to read as follows:
25 2. Wildlife shall not be taken on or from any public highway, except:
26 a. that in the forest preserve counties it may be taken from highways
27 other than state, county or town highways; and
28 b. by a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to
29 this article provided that such activities are in furtherance of the
30 site-specific deer management plan.
31 § 4. Subdivision 2 and subparagraph 1 of paragraph b of subdivision 4
32 of section 11-0931 of the environmental conservation law, as separately
33 amended by chapters 65 and 83 of the laws of 2024, are amended to read
34 as follows:
35 2. a. No crossbow or firearm except a pistol or revolver shall be
36 carried or possessed in or on a motor vehicle unless it is uncocked, for
37 a crossbow or unloaded, for a firearm in both the chamber and the maga-
38 zine, except that a loaded firearm which may be legally used for taking
39 migratory game birds may be carried or possessed in a motorboat while
40 being legally used in hunting migratory game birds, and b. no person
41 except a law enforcement officer in the performance of [his] their offi-
42 cial duties or a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued
43 pursuant to [section 11-0522 of] this article, provided that such activ-
44 ities are in furtherance of the site-specific deer management plan, [or
45 a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to section
46 11-0522-a of this article, provided that such activities are in further-
47 ance of the site-specific deer management plan,] shall, while in or on a
48 motor vehicle, use a jacklight, spotlight or other artificial light upon
49 lands inhabited by deer if [he or she is] they are in possession or [is]
50 are accompanied by a person who is in possession, at the time of such
51 use, of a longbow, crossbow or a firearm of any kind except a pistol or
52 revolver, unless such longbow or crossbow is unstrung or such firearm or
53 crossbow is taken down or securely fastened in a case or locked in the
54 trunk of the vehicle. For purposes of this subdivision, motor vehicle
55 shall mean every vehicle or other device operated by any power other
56 than muscle power, and which shall include but not be limited to automo-
S. 9023--B 4
1 biles, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, trailers and motorboats, snowmo-
2 biles and snowtravelers, whether operated on or off public highways.
3 Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, the department may
4 issue a permit to any person who is non-ambulatory, except with the use
5 of a mechanized aid, to possess a loaded firearm in or on a motor vehi-
6 cle as defined in this section, subject to such restrictions as the
7 department may deem necessary in the interest of public safety. Nothing
8 in this section permits the possession of a pistol or a revolver contra-
9 ry to the penal law.
10 (1) The owner or lessee of the dwelling house, or members of [his]
11 their immediate family actually residing therein, or a person in [his]
12 the employ of such owner or lessee, or the guest of the owner or lessee
13 of the dwelling house acting with the consent of said owner or lessee,
14 provided however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize such
15 persons to discharge a firearm within five hundred feet, a long bow
16 within one hundred fifty feet, or a crossbow within two hundred fifty
17 feet of any other dwelling house, or a farm building or farm structure
18 actually occupied or used, or a school building or playground, public
19 structure, or occupied factory or church; provided further, that a
20 nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursuant to [section
21 11-0522 of] this article acting in furtherance of the [site specific]
22 site-specific deer management plan may discharge a firearm within five
23 hundred feet of any dwelling houses, structures, schools or playgrounds,
24 provided that the owners or lessees thereof have been notified by certi-
25 fied mail of the date or dates, and time period of the expected activ-
26 ity, and discharge a firearm within two hundred fifty feet of such
27 dwelling houses, structures, schools or playgrounds provided that all
28 the owners or lessees thereof have provided written consent[; provided
29 further, that a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued pursu-
30 ant to section 11-0522-a of this article acting in furtherance of the
31 site-specific deer management plan may discharge a firearm within five
32 hundred feet of any dwelling houses, structures, schools or playgrounds,
33 provided that the owners or lessees thereof have been notified by certi-
34 fied mail of the date or dates and time period of the expected activity,
35 and discharge a firearm within two hundred fifty feet of such dwelling
36 houses, structures, schools or playgrounds provided that all the owners
37 or lessees thereof have provided written consent];
38 § 4-a. Subdivision 2 and subparagraph 1 of paragraph b of subdivision
39 4 of section 11-0931 of the environmental conservation law, as amended
40 by section 8 of part EE of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, are amended
41 to read as follows:
42 2. a. No crossbow or firearm except a pistol or revolver shall be
43 carried or possessed in or on a motor vehicle unless it is uncocked, for
44 a crossbow or unloaded, for a firearm in both the chamber and the maga-
45 zine, except that a loaded firearm which may be legally used for taking
46 migratory game birds may be carried or possessed in a motorboat while
47 being legally used in hunting migratory game birds, and b. no person
48 except a law enforcement officer in the performance of [his] their offi-
49 cial duties or a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit issued
50 pursuant to this article, provided that such activities are in further-
51 ance of the site-specific deer management plan, shall, while in or on a
52 motor vehicle, use a jacklight, spotlight or other artificial light upon
53 lands inhabited by deer if [he or she is] they are in possession or is
54 accompanied by a person who is in possession, at the time of such use,
55 of a longbow, crossbow or a firearm of any kind except a pistol or
56 revolver, unless such longbow or crossbow is unstrung or such firearm or
S. 9023--B 5
1 crossbow is taken down or securely fastened in a case or locked in the
2 trunk of the vehicle. For purposes of this subdivision, motor vehicle
3 shall mean every vehicle or other device operated by any power other
4 than muscle power, and which shall include but not be limited to automo-
5 biles, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, trailers and motorboats, snowmo-
6 biles and snowtravelers, whether operated on or off public highways.
7 Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, the department may
8 issue a permit to any person who is non-ambulatory, except with the use
9 of a mechanized aid, to possess a loaded firearm in or on a motor vehi-
10 cle as defined in this section, subject to such restrictions as the
11 department may deem necessary in the interest of public safety. Nothing
12 in this section permits the possession of a pistol or a revolver contra-
13 ry to the penal law.
14 (1) The owner or lessee of the dwelling house, or members of [his]
15 their immediate family actually residing therein, or a person in [his]
16 the employ, or the guest of the owner or lessee of the dwelling house
17 acting with the consent of said owner or lessee, provided however, that
18 nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize such persons to discharge a
19 firearm within five hundred feet, a long bow within one hundred fifty
20 feet, or a crossbow within two hundred fifty feet of any other dwelling
21 house, or a farm building or farm structure actually occupied or used,
22 or a school building or playground, public structure, or occupied facto-
23 ry or church; provided further, that a nuisance wildlife specialist with
24 a permit issued pursuant to this article acting in furtherance of the
25 site-specific deer management plan may discharge a firearm within five
26 hundred feet of any dwelling houses, structures, schools or playgrounds,
27 provided that the owners or lessees thereof have been notified by certi-
28 fied mail of the date or dates and time period of the expected activity,
29 and discharge a firearm within two hundred fifty feet of such dwelling
30 houses, structures, schools or playgrounds provided that all the owners
31 or lessees thereof have provided written consent;
32 § 5. The department of environmental conservation, following consulta-
33 tion with the town of Huntington shall prepare a report examining the
34 effectiveness of the town of Huntington deer management pilot program
35 established pursuant to section 11-0522-b of the environmental conserva-
36 tion law in addressing deer overpopulation and the effectiveness in
37 addressing destruction to public or private property in the town of
38 Huntington. The report shall include the number of cull permits issued,
39 and the number of deer taken. The report shall also include recommenda-
40 tions for program improvements, including the potential effectiveness of
41 authorizing future programs. The report shall be delivered to the gover-
42 nor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the
43 senate, as well as published on the department's public website, no
44 later than thirty months after the effective date of this act.
45 § 6. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
46 ing the date on which it shall have become a law and sections one and
47 five shall expire and be deemed repealed three years after such date;
48 provided further, however, that the amendments to subdivisions 3, 9 and
49 10 of section 11-0505 of the environmental conservation law made by
50 section two of this act, subdivision 2 of section 11-0901 of the envi-
51 ronmental conservation law made by section three of this act and subdi-
52 vision 2 and subparagraph 1 of paragraph b of subdivision 4 of section
53 11-0931 of the environmental conservation law made by section four of
54 this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion or repeal, as
55 applicable, of such subdivisions and such paragraph pursuant to section
56 6 of chapters 683 and 704 of the laws of 2023, as amended, when upon
S. 9023--B 6
1 such date the provisions of sections two-a, three-a, and four-a of this
2 act shall take effect.