Hunters in St. Lawrence County harvested more deer during the 2019-20 hunting seasons than they did during the previous year, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

DEC says hunters in St. Lawrence County took 5,806 deer in 2019, up from 5046 in 2018 and 4,998 in 2017.

The total statewide take for 2019 was 224,190, DEC said.

"Regulated hunting benefits all New Yorkers by reducing the negative impacts of deer on forests, communities, and crop producers, while also providing more than 10 million pounds of high quality, local protein to families and food pantries around the state every year," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.

The proportion of bucks – defined as males at least a year and a half old – was more than half of the deer taken. Of the 5,806 deer taken in the county in 2019, 4,465 were bucks.

The Town of Lisbon led all townships in the county in the number of white-tailed deer harvested in 2019 with 430. Potsdam was next with 391 and Canton was third with 319.

The town-by-town deer take in the county for 2019 was:

Brasher, 147 bucks and 168 total; Canton, 241 bucks and 319 total; Clare, 94 bucks and 122 total; Clifton, 49 bucks and 63 total; Colton, 120 bucks and 140 total; DePeyster, 83 bucks and 92 total; DeKalb, 183 bucks and 219 total; Edwards. 98 bucks and 133 total.

Also: Fine, 109 bucks and 135 total; Fowler, 108 bucks and 142 total; Gouverneur, 124 bucks and 151 total; Hammond, 141 bucks and 167 total; Hermon, 125 bucks and 170 total; Hopkinton, 152 bucks and 175 total; Lawrence, 78 bucks and 119 total; Lisbon, 318 bucks and 430 total; Louisville, 61 bucks and 72 total; Macomb, 141 bucks and 154 total; Massena, 82 bucks and 90 total; and Morristown, 234 bucks and 290 total.

Also: Norfolk, 152 bucks and 177 total; City of Ogdensburg, 9 bucks and 14 total; Oswegatchie, 236 bucks and 290 total; Parishville, 185 bucks and 282 total; Piercefield, 56 bucks and 62 total; Pierrepont, 92 bucks and 138 total; Pitcairn, 45 bucks and 58 total; Potsdam, 279 bucks and 391 total; Rossie, 73 bucks and 76 total; Russell, 194 bucks and 288 total; Stockholm, 186 bucks and 281 total; and Waddington, 122 bucks and 152 total.

During the annual youth hunt Oct. 12-14, youngsters took 1,1148 deer and 7 black bears. DEC says 6,260 junior hunters participated.

Statrwide, the take by weapon was 65.5% rifles and shotguns, 20.7% bow, 9.2% muzzleloader, 4.2% crossbow and .5% handgun.

No CWD Detections in New York in 2019

DEC tested 2,658 harvested deer across the state and found no evidence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the herd. DEC partners with cooperating meat processors and taxidermists in obtaining samples for testing each year.

"Preventing the introduction of CWD into New York is a high priority for DEC to ensure the health of our deer herd and to protect the recreational and viewing opportunities deer provide," Seggos said.

CWD is a highly contagious disease that affects deer, elk, moose, and caribou. CWD poses a significant threat to New York's wild white-tailed deer herd. It is always fatal and there are no vaccines or treatments available. CWD is believed to be caused by a prion, which is an infectious protein, that can infect animals through animal-to-animal contact or contaminated environments. CWD has been found in 26 states.