HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/31/2024 J �MI
„ Town Hall,53095 Main Road
t P.O.Box 1179
Southold,New York 11971
Telephone(631) 765-1283 Ext.235r
Fax(631) 765-9015
Deer Management Task Force Committee
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
MINUTES
January 31, 2024
A meeting of the Deer Management Task Force Committee was held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at
Southold Town Hall Conference Room, 53095 Main Road, Southold.
Call to order 6:30 pm
Present: Supervisor Albert Krupski, Councilperson Greg Doroski, Craig Jobes,Arnold Blair,John
Rasweiler, John Haas, Jim McMahon, John Hanson and Nancy Foote
Previous meeting minutes approved.
Current season
Craig Jobes reported on regular season ending January 31. Hunter roster increased this year with over
100 hunters participating (residents and non-residents)Harvest count of 305 is on pace with normal
numbers. Program has record numbers in donations to date. All processed deer were donated to CAST.
Currently 500 pounds in the Town freezer. 1500—2000 pounds this season to CAST.
Deer cooler needs to be moved. Perhaps build a new one? Jim M suggested using Land Preservation
funds for building new unit as part of the stewardship program. The cooler is currently working well and
is holding temperature.
This season there was less than 10 deer with EHD. First year was much worse.
New property on Laurel Ave in Southold. More charts on the property at next meeting.
Committee questioned if venison can be made available to residents. Craig explained the program uses
grant money for the ground venison being distributed to food banks/food pantries. Craig will look into it
for next year. The grant money ends this year, and the program will look to NYS to pay for the
processing. Additionally possible use of CPF money for management of the program in general. Not all
properties on the program are CPF.
MVA numbers are not available until later in the season.
At a previous civic meeting residents thought to open private properties and offer venison in return.
Support from larger landowners willing to open up property open to hunting are protected from liability.
John Hanson find that most people do not want hunting on their property. Discussion and statistic
review of large lands and Land Trust properties. Suggestion to reach out to Peconic Land Trust in
regards to Wolf property in Bayview and Reese.
NYS has not yet issue nuisance permits.
Plant a plot in the center of properties was suggested.
Nuisance season
Begins February 1. Craig and groundskeeper staff put out feeders and will bait throughout the season.
New property on Laurel Ave will have a feeder. 27 hunters on program with a possible harvest of 30-35
deer. Suggestion to buy apples to add to the bait corn to attract more deer to the feeder.
Arnold Blair passed out a DEC article outlining consequences of feeding deer in winter.
Jim McMahon stressed that properly managed properties are key. Open up the properties to attract
deer. Help to get them out of the backyards. Greg Doroski would like to discuss stewardship for better
coordination. Newer equipment would be needed for additional cutting on the preserves.
Educate the public. Do not feed the deer and tie in car wrecks. Ask private property owners to volunteer
their land for hunting. Use Town Clerks space in the Suffolk Times and Channel 22 to get messages out.
Meeting adjourned 7:30 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Foote, Secretary
Deer Management Task Force Committee