It may be hard to believe considering the situation today, but at the turn of the 20th century, there were virtually no deer on New York's Long Island. Decades later, however, following a successful reintroduction effort, deer began to flourish. The deer population on Long Island has been estimated at as many as 20,000 animals, and in parts of the eastern half of Suffolk County, whitetail densities may be 100 per square mile, one of the highest in New York.

WHY HUNT LONG ISLAND?
With such impressive deer numbers it would appear that Long Island and Suffolk County in particular should provide some good hunting opportunities. Truth be told: It does!

In 2006, for example, hunters killed 2,357 deer in the county, and 850 of those were bucks. In 2007, the harvest and buck totals dropped slightly to 2,159 and 781, respectively, but in 2008, the harvest increased to 2,528 with 805 bucks contributing to the total.

While other counties produce more deer each year and more bucks overall, few have such a high buck-to-total harvest ratio, and only a handful of counties consistently produce as many trophy bucks.

Between 1996 and 2002, Long Island deer hunters put 57 bucks in the various record books, and more have been added since then. One of the largest was a 22-point monster taken in 2006 that netted 196 2/8 Boone and Crockett points! The bottom line is Long Island produces its share of bucks and is one of the top counties in the state to bag a trophy specimen.

The island is a great spot for bowhunters. In 2001, the bowhunting season on the island was expanded from two months to three, making it the longest archery deer season in the state. Hunters are allowed to obtain unlimited special permits to kill does.

It is estimated that about 60 percent of the deer in Suffolk County are killed by archers. The archery season opens Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31.

The firearms season starts the first Monday after the first Saturday in January and ends the last weekday in January. There is no firearms hunting on weekends. Shotguns using a single ball or slug and muzzleloaders with a minimum bore or .44-caliber firing a single projectile may be used.

Shotgun barrels may be rifled and telescopic sights are legal.

PUBLIC -LAND OPTIONS
If there is a downside to deer hunting on Long Island it is the permit process required to hunt public lands, and then finding access to places to hunt. The island is obviously one of the most developed areas in New York, so hunting is tightly controlled.

Access permits along with a hunting license are required to hunt all lands managed by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. On the Rocky Point Natural Resources Management Area and Otis G. Pike Preserve, hunters must have a daily access permit during at least part of the season.