Hunting Forum

This question goes out to my fellow NY archery and gun hunters. I have never seen nor read it anywhere, but just recently I read on another forum that it is illegal to harvest a white deer and also an albino deer in New York state. Is this true or false? 

Aaron

Honestly, I'm not 100% sure but I believe they are illegal to shoot. I don't think I would consider it in the first place but I don't think it's legal anyhow.

As far as I know its legal EXCEPT at the old Seneca Army Depot. Best bet call the DEC regional office for your area. Then repost here so we all know.

I sent the DEC a note, I'll let ya know what they say. I tried to find something about it in the regs but no luck so I suspect that gutpile's right and that it's legal. If it was not, they'd probably have something in the regs for sure

Here's the reply I got from the NYSDEC- "We make no legal distinction between white-tailed deer with normal pelage and piebald or albino white-tailed deer." It's a personal preference except at the Seneca Depot, where it's illegal.

OK, as a non NY hunter, I gotta ask.  What's special about the Seneca Army depot?

Dale

SCALVIN and GERRY,
Thank you very much for doing the leg work for me. I tried to get a call in to Region 8 office today, but due to the nature of my job, I could not manage the time to do so. I was fairly certain that it is legal, but not a 100%. In a situation like, one needs to be a 100% sure. I remember years ago, a friend of one of my older brothers harvested an albino doe and he did not get in any trouble for it....but things can change. Again, Thank you for doing the "leg work" for me!

Aaron

I also could not find anything in the regulations on the NYDEC website....and I was thinking that if it is illegal, it would darn sure be there.

I got the same basic reply as Gerry regarding if shooting Albino and white deer (not albinos) is legal in NYS

"Quick answer is yes. Albinos are rare, but we do get reports occasionally. Piebalds and white deer (non-albino) also exist in NY. There are no harvest restrictions for any of these with the exception of the Seneca Depot


Kevin Clarke
Wildlife Biologist
NYSDEC
Region 3 Headquarters
21 S. Putt Corners Rd.
New Paltz, NY 12561-1620
845-256-3088"

Yep, there is a piebald in my area and if I see it I will rid it of the gene pool. My neighbor won't shoot it "because it's special". >rolleyes<