New York hunters will have a new incentive to harvest antlerless deer beginning this fall as the state rolls out a statewide “Earn-a-2nd-Buck” system designed to increase doe harvest while giving hunters an opportunity to tag a second buck.

Under the new regulations, every hunter will receive one antlered deer tag that can be used during any open season, with the exception of the September antlerless season. Hunters who first harvest and report an antlerless deer using a Deer Management Permit (DMP), Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag, or Deer Management Assistance Program tag will become eligible for a second antlered deer tag.

Wildlife agencies across North America have long viewed antlerless harvest as the most effective tool for managing deer populations because does drive herd growth. New York officials said the new system is intended to encourage more hunters to harvest antlerless deer while rewarding them with the opportunity to pursue an additional buck.

The regulations also rename several existing tags. The former Regular Season Deer Tag becomes the Antlered Deer Tag, while the former Bow/Muzzleloader Either-Sex Deer Tag becomes the Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said the changes were developed after input from hunters, deer biologists, and professional wildlife managers throughout the Northeast. The agency also reviewed more than 1,000 public comments, many of which supported increasing antlerless harvest to reduce deer impacts on forests, agriculture, and other natural resources.

To discourage abuse of the program, DEC will require hunters to certify harvest reports and may request proof of an antlerless harvest within seven days. Acceptable verification could include photographs, the deer’s head, or information from the deer processor. Wildlife officers will also conduct field checks to help deter fraudulent reporting.

The agency said it will closely monitor harvest data and can reduce antlerless harvest opportunities if the new regulations prove more effective than anticipated.

Earn-a-buck regulations have been used in various forms by several states over the past few decades, often generating debate among hunters. Supporters argue they improve herd management by increasing doe harvest, while critics contend the requirement can reduce hunter participation or limit opportunities in areas with already-balanced deer populations. New York’s version attempts to balance those concerns by making the additional buck tag a reward rather than a requirement.