By admin November 19, 2018

Deer Hunting Areas

The charts below indicate which areas are included in the programs described below. Please note: Site maps for each hunting area are provided on the reservation pages for each specific site.

Ithaca Deer Management Focus Area (DMFA)

Hunters that wish to participate in the Deer Management Focus Area Program (DMFA) on Cornell Deer Management Program properties within the DMFA zone must also possess a Cornell Deer Management Program Permit.  Note that a DEC issued DMFA Permit is NOT a Cornell issued Permit. Hunters attempting to hunt Cornell properties during the DMFA January season without a Cornell issued permit will be prosecuted. For more information on the DMFA program visit the DEC webpage, including dates, rules of the program and how to apply, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/82382.html.

Archery and Crossbow Only

These sites are restricted to archery and crossbow only hunting. Unless otherwise noted, all listed sites are open to archery, crossbow, and firearm hunting opportunities.

Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) Only

These sites will have free DEC Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) tags for eligible hunters, by request to Cornell Botanic Gardens. These tags are intended to help us meet our deer management program goals of reducing the doe population. Hunters are expected to use purchased tags taking deer in our program areas before requesting a DMAP tag. Priority will be given to hunters who have harvested deer in preceding years. DMAP tag recipients must now report harvest data directly to Cornell Botanic Gardens. This information includes site name, sex, age, date taken, tag number, hunter name, and back tag number through the program’s on-line hunter reservation and harvest reporting system.  DMAP tags are to be used only at the assigned site, valid for antlerless deer only, limited to two tags per hunter per year, and must not be sold or transferred. To request a DMAP tag, contact [email protected].

Sites Recommended for non-ambulatory hunters

Additional details are provided on the respective reservation site webpage.

Locator Maps

Click the links below for  hunting program locator maps:

Tompkins County

Greater Ithaca/Campus

Restricted Sites

Prospective hunters with questions about hunting at “restricted sites” or “restricted parking areas” such as Eames Bog Lot #1 and Coy Glen Lot #4 should contact [email protected]. Note that for this year McLean Bogs, Bandler Family Forest, and Edwards Restricted Sites are already full and are closed to additional enrollment.

Natural Areas

For more information on Cornell Botanic Gardens’ preserves, visit our on-campus and off-campus natural areas pages. For site specific and program information on hunting activity and harvest at each site, read the deer management program summary for 2008 - 2017.

Additional Hunter Resources

Note: Cornell Botanic Gardens is providing the following information for the benefit of our hunters, and makes no claim of responsibility for the quality or reliability of services by third parties.

Venison Donation

If you are interested in donating venison to those in need, local Venison Donation Coalition Butchers are:

• Country Harvest  Groton, NY (607-218-8766)
• Mountainside Outdoor Supply  Homer, NY (607-749-5714)
• Jon’s Custom Meats  Moravia, NY (315-497-0849)
• Ty’s Deer & Custom Meat Processing  Scipio Center, NY (315-364-8266)

Other nearby non-VDC Butchers are:
Tim & Beth Ceurter Richford, NY (607-657-8007)

Local DEC Environmental Conservation Officers

Osman Eisenberg (607) 564-9458
Jeff Krueger (607) 227-9584
ECO Emergency Dispatch Number (844) DEC-ECOS or (844) 332-3287

DEC Land adjacent to Botanic Gardens Natural Areas

Hammond Hill State Forest (Slaterville 600)
Connecticut Hill Wildlife Mamagement Area (Carter Creek)
Shindagin Hollow State Forest (Bald Hill)

Local Dog Tracking Services

For private (not Cornell affiliated) tracking services, please text 607-280-6240 between the hours of 9:00AM and 9:00 PM. Messages will be answered on a first come, first served basis. Tracks will be taken depending on the details of the shot. Suggested donation of $50 to cover fuel and dog care costs.

Support for Educational Partners

Primitive Pursuits, a local non-profit, is looking for donations of raw deerskins to support adult and youth hide tanning classes. If you are interested in supporting this effort, you can donate your hide to Primitive Pursuits by emailing their staff  for more information.

3 tiled links on bottom:
Locator maps, Program Summary , Link to Natural Area profiles page