The Department of Environmental Conservation is urging St. Lawrence County deer hunters to harvest more female deer this hunting season, saying higher deer populations can harm wildlife habitat, increase disease risks and contribute to vehicle collisions.

The DEC’s “Choose A Doe” campaign encourages hunters to apply for Deer Management Permits and harvest antlerless deer to help keep populations in balance with available habitat.

Before 2015, New York hunters consistently harvested more antlerless deer than adult bucks. In recent seasons, however, only about 17% of active deer hunters harvested an antlerless deer, although about 60% had an opportunity to do so, according to the DEC.

The agency said deer populations have grown across much of the state, in some areas reaching levels that negatively affect deer health, habitat, hunting and public safety.

Harvesting does helps limit population growth and reduces competition for food and other resources. Deer populations kept in balance with their habitat tend to produce healthier animals with greater body weights, larger antlers and more fawns, DEC said.

Lower deer densities also can reduce the risk of diseases spreading rapidly through populations, including epizootic hemorrhagic disease and chronic wasting disease.

High deer populations can damage vegetation that provides habitat for other wildlife. They also contribute to agricultural and property damage, vehicle collisions and the spread of tick-borne diseases.

The DEC estimates deer cause at least 65,000 vehicle collisions annually in New York, along with hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to farms, orchards and communities.

Harvested does also can help address food insecurity. According to the DEC, one donated deer can provide up to 200 meals for people in need.

The agency said changes to state deer hunting regulations have expanded opportunities and incentives for hunters to harvest does.

More information is available on the DEC’s Choose A Doe webpage.