Wildlife Management Program

The 2026 application window is closed. Application window is April 1-30th, Annually.

The Town of Perinton Wildlife Management Program authorizes licensed/registered individuals to bow hunt on select town Properties. There is no hunting of ANY town own land without a Town issued permit. The properties within the program are the only town properties that can be hunted, and through the program only.

Purpose

The Town of Perinton experiences one of the highest deer/automobile accident rates in Monroe County. Nuisance wildlife complaints within the Town are consistent year to year. This policy will decrease the incidents of collision, curb the rate of nuisance wildlife reports and institute a greater degree of safety for all users of the selected properties. This program was created in 2015 to manage town lands and help control local wildlife populations. It serves to limit, manage and identify all hunters on town land.

Town properties where wildlife management occurs:

  •                 DeWitt Property
  •                 Furman/Carter Open Space
  •                 Horizon Hill Open Space
  •                 Howell Road West
  •                 Turk Hill Open Space
  •                 Route 96 Open Space
  •                 White Brook North
  •                 White Brook South
  •                 Thayer Hill Open Space

Managed Wildlife:

The White-Tailed deer is a primarily nocturnal, herbivorous animal that can be found in all parts of the Town. They have learned to live with the presence of human and automobiles around. At night they are often swarming to the subdivisions to feed on many types of garden plants, with their favorites being hostas. Deer numbers have continued to climb in Perinton, with plenty of food and limited predators in our area their numbers have grown drastically.

The Eastern Coyote is a nocturnal, omnivore that is most active at night and eats a variety plants, berries, and small mammals. Coyote’s can be found throughout Perinton. They are most often heard howling and barking at night. Coyote’s in rare circumstances and situations may be in close proximity to homes and people. Just like other animals in our town they have adapted to living in dense human populated areas. Subdivision’s provide food for their prey that attracts them to these areas.

Red fox are mostly nocturnal, but can be active early morning or late evening. Red fox eat fruit, insects, crawfish, birds and small mammals. Red fox are commonly seen throughout the town, denning on the edges of yards and in banks of the landscape. Fox are affected the most by mange than any other species in our town. Mange is a skin disease caused by microscopic mites that burrow into skin. Because of the dense population of these mites here in Perinton, mange is easily spread from fox to fox. Red fox with mange have a very low survival rate.

Management:

• All New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) rules and regulations are strictly adhered to.

• Only Town of Perinton resident hunters with valid DEC hunting permits and proper game tags are considered for the program.

• The total number of hunting permits issued by the Town of Perinton will be determined by the size of the selected property. The smaller the property, fewer permits will be issued. The number of permits issued could range from two, to eight, dependent on the size of the property.

• All hunters will be issued a permit that will include a hunter identification number, and must be carried on the hunter at all times.

• Bows and crossbows will be permitted. Select firearms may be used for coyote/fox.

 • The Animal Control Office will manage the program. All registered hunters must provide personal contact information.

• All hunters will meet with the Animal Control Officer to ensure their understanding of the rules, regulations and restrictions of the program, prior to their permit being issued.

• Questions and concerns can be directed to the Town Animal Control Officer.

• This program does not change, nor violate current Perinton Town Code.

Benefits:

• The primary benefit of this program is that it will increase the safety of all users of the property by limiting and identifying the individuals that are hunting the property.

• The rate of wildlife/automobile collision will decrease.

• The frequency of nuisance wildlife incidents will decrease.

 • This program will support DEC wildlife management plans.

 • Increase shared use and stewardship for town open space property use.

 • The hunter will have the option of donating the venison in an effort to fight hunger.

Contact:

 • Questions, concerns and complaints can be addressed to the town Animal Control Office

Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

  • (585) 223-5115

All other times, including holidays, call the After Hours number: (585) 425-7380.

This policy/program has been developed through a collaboration of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Town of Perinton Department of Public Works, and the Department of Recreation and Parks.

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION FOUND BELOW. THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES MADE FOR THE 2025 SEASON.

Program Requirements

  • Be a resident of the Town of Perinton (this includes Village of Fairport)
  • Have required DEC hunter safety and bow safety course certificates
  • Pass a target shooting exercise (3 Arrows/ Bolts, 3 different targets, at 3 different yardages, max 25 yards). Target Shooting exercise will take place before the lottery is conducted, all applicants must pass before they will be entered into lottery.
  • Attend annual meeting
  • This program is not a DMAP program, participants must use their own tags for harvesting white-tailed deer
  • 1 Youth hunter allowed per adult hunter. Youth hunter is any hunter 18 years old or younger. Youth hunter must also pass range shoot and attend meeting. Youth hunter must be accompanied by adult at all times.

Program Policy

This application will enter you into a lottery system to be able to hunt one of the designated town lands in pursuit of harvesting a doe. You may only harvest a buck after you have harvested a doe. A doe harvest will guarantee you a spot in the program the following year. There are nine Town properties to choose from, maps are found here. Each location has a permitted number of hunters based on property type and size. If selected, the hunter will be able to hang one tree stand or set up one blind in the assigned wildlife management zone. A $75 fee will be collected at the pre-season meeting after you have passed the target shooting exercise, and have been selected from the lottery. All information entered in the form is confidential. The Town of Perinton may revoke program permits at any time. A lottery will be done by the Animal Control Department. E-mail is our primary form of contact. Dates, times, and directions will be distributed via e-mail. Lottery Results will be decided and announced via e-mail. Further details and directions will be distributed via e-mail.

As interest grows for the Wildlife Management Program, there are more cuts from the lottery each year. We ask that residents who will not take advantage of this program and its opportunity, to please not apply.