The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Lake Erie Walleye Tournament in Dunkirk Harbor with Director Zen Olow, right, and his supportive team is set to go starting today through Sunday.
Photo by Forrest Fisher
It’s become a beloved tradition: the 20th annual Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club (NCCC) Lake Erie Walleye Tournament in Dunkirk Harbor with Director Zen Olow and his supportive team is set to go today through Sunday. The NCCC Tournament offers adventure and opportunity for local anglers to compete for cash and prizes.
DMP Deer Permits — for all hunters, the NYSDEC Deer Management Permit (DMP) season will open soon. Between Aug. 5 and Oct. 1, hunters may apply for two DMPs within the same or two different WMUs depending on availability. The probability of being selected to receive a DMP is based on the number of DMPs available, and the number of hunters expected to apply in a particular WMU, but the chances of being selected are the same throughout the entire application period. Hunters may also transfer or receive up to two DMPs from other hunters and any leftover DMPs become available again through license issuing agents beginning Nov. 1.
When hunters harvest antlerless (primarily female) deer they help keep New York’s deer population in balance with available habitat and reduce deer-related conflicts and impacts (ex. deer-vehicle collisions and crop damage). Female deer are the primary component of the deer population that drives population growth and must be managed to ensure deer populations do not become overabundant. To prevent this, DEC adjusts the number of antlerless deer tags that are available to hunters in each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) through annual allocations of Deer Management Permits (DMPs). DMPs provide hunters additional opportunities to harvest antlerless deer to meet deer population management objectives.
For 2024, DEC has maintained high DMP allocations across much of the state. Additional antlerless deer need to be harvested in the following WMUs: 1C, 3H, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4G, 4H, 4P, 4R, 4W, 4Z, 5A, 5C, 5G, 5R, 6A, 6C, 6G, 6K, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7P, 7R, 7S, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8P, 8R, 8S, 8T, 8W, 8X, 9A, 9F, 9G, 9J, 9S, 9T, 9X, and 9Y.
Hunters are asked to help steward New York’s deer herd by applying for DMPs and harvesting at least one antlerless deer this coming hunting season. The DMP Application Deadline is October 1. Here’s what you need to know before applying: All licensed big game hunters, aged 12 or older can apply for DMPs. You can apply for up to two DMPs within the same WMU (depending on availability) or two different WMUs. Both DMPs must be applied for at the same time. There is a $10 non-refundable application fee for all applicants, except for holders of Lifetime Sportsman licenses purchased prior to 9/30/2009, and youth hunters (age 15 or younger). Visit your local clerk’s office or visit the NYSDEC online.
Gotta love the outdoors!
Outdoors Calendar
Aug. 2-4: 20th Annual Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Walleye Tourney, $300 entry/team, Dunkirk Harbor, NCCC club weigh-in each day; 3 fish bag/day, 3 days; Info and registration, contact Zen Olow, 716-640-2776.
Aug. 7: The Lake Erie VIP Experience, charter boat guest learning experience. Chadwick Bay Clarion Hotel Gazebo. By invitation only. Contact Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association, Diane Steel, for info: 716-998-5137.
Aug. 3 – Oct. 27: Art that Matters to the Planet: Clarity; on view inside RTPI, partnering w/Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. Regular Admission.
Aug. 16-17: Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge, Dunkirk Harbor from HQ at the Clarion Hotel Gazebo, $500 entry/team; info, contact Jim Steel at 716-481-5348 or visit https://innovative-outdoors.com.
Aug. 17: Roger’s Bird-Day Bash, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., in the Lodge at RTPI, tickets $20; Includes all-day admission to RTPI.