Governor signs bill allowing Syracuse’s deer culling program to target more animals

Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse’s yearly effort to hunt nuisance deer will expand this winter thanks to a newly signed state law.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation approved last spring by the state Legislature that reduces the setbacks from occupied buildings required for specially trained U.S. Department of Agriculture sharpshooters who cull deer.

Syracuse is close to starting its fifth season using the program aimed at reducing deer overpopulation in residential areas. Since the winter of 2019-20, the USDA-trained hunters have been working on select nights to reduce the number of animals that are causing vegetation damage, increasing motor vehicle crash risk on city streets and dropping disease-carrying ticks.

After the program eliminated 159 deer in its first year, numbers dropped significantly in the following winters. City officials have been working with state legislators on a change in the law that governs Syracuse’s urban deer management program.

State Sen. Rachel May and state Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter ushered through a bill that reduces the distance from an occupied building that deer management sharpshooters could fire from 500 feet to 250 feet. Anything inside that perimeter needs written permission of 100% of the affected property owners.

With Hochul’s signature this month, the expansion can move forward. The Syracuse Common Council has approved a $50,000 USDA contract for this year’s program that anticipated the expanded hunting zones. City officials hope they can cull 150 deer, up from 79 killed last winter.

The deer sharpshooters use sound-suppressed rifles, infrared vision devices and spotlights. Their work takes place in the northwest, southwest and southeast areas of the city. Deer harvested are processed for free by Marsh Mill Ranch and donated to food pantries. Last year, about 1,913 pounds of venison were delivered, providing 7,652 meals.

“Syracuse can work more closely with USDA-certified specialists, guaranteeing the highest level of expertise and professionalism when culling,” May said in a news release. “We can better manage the destructive habits and public health risks of deer while still enjoying the many wildlife areas of Central New York.”

City officials expect the deer management work, which also includes baiting targeted areas where hunts take place, to start next week. The program typically runs into the early spring.

“We’ve made significant progress in reducing the overpopulation of deer in the city over the past five years, but there continue to be parts of Syracuse where the problem is still serious,” Mayor Ben Walsh said in a written statement. “We expect this legislation will allow the City to safely conduct deer removal in additional locations, so we can improve public health and safety.”

City reporter Jeremy Boyer can be reached at jboyer@syracuse.com, (315) 657-5673, Twitter or Facebook.