September 5, 2003

Contact: Ian Michaels (718) 595-6600

New York City Announces New Deer Hunting Area Near The Schoharie Reservoir

Commissioner Christopher O. Ward of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that 148 acres on the west side of the Schoharie Reservoir in the Town of Gilboa will be opened for deer hunting this fall. The new Road Seven Unit will be available for bow, regular and muzzleloader deer hunting to hunters with valid DEP Hunting Tags.

"Hunting opportunities on City water supply lands have steadily increased over the past few years from just over 13,000 acres in 1999 to more than 31,000 acres this year,” said Commissioner Ward. “Over 3,700 acres of hunting area are available on City lands in Schoharie and Greene Counties alone.

“The success of past seasons and the City's commitments under the 1997 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with watershed towns have played an important role in increasing hunting opportunities. Hunters have been responsible visitors to City water supply lands and that is very encouraging for the future," he said. In the MOA, New York City committed to open newly-acquired lands for limited recreation and to review currently-owned City lands, primarily located near reservoirs, for their recreation use potential.

The Road Seven Unit is one of eleven City hunting areas that are open in New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Wildlife Management Unit (4R). The property is shown on the DEP map for the hunting area and indicated in the field by orange stickers that read "Hunting by Permit" on existing DEP signs. Access to the interior of the hunting area is excellent due to the presence of several woods roads. Hunting activities in the area will be carefully monitored and DEP staff are available to address any problems. DEP has acquired, or is in the process of acquiring, other nearby properties it plans to open more land for hunting at Schoharie in the coming years.

Bow hunting, first introduced on an experimental basis last season, will be allowed this year on all water supply hunting areas, including the Road Seven Unit, in addition to regular gun and muzzleloader hunting for deer. In 2002, three hunting areas were open for bow hunting to a limited number of hunters who were selected in a random lottery. This season, bow hunting will be permitted on all water supply hunting areas for hunters with valid DEP Hunting Tags.

DEP Hunting Tags are required in order to hunt on City water supply hunting areas. These are available to all eligible DEP Access Permit holders who apply. Applications are available on the DEP Web site www.nyc.gov/watershedrecreation along with the hunting conditions and overview maps of the 2003 hunting areas. Applications are also at many bait and tackle shops and town halls in the watershed; DEP Offices in Queens, Manhattan and Kingston; and DEP Land Management Offices in Ashokan, Downsville, Grahamsville, Mahopac and Gilboa.

Maps of the hunting areas will be mailed with the 2003 hunting tags starting in late September and continuing through the hunting season. Hunters who completed and returned their 2002 Deer Hunt Survey by the January 22, 2002 due-date and have valid Access Permits will receive their hunting materials this year automatically starting in late September.