HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/30/2013
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JAMES C. McMAHONTown Hall, 53095 Main Road
• Chairman r°n :W 1~ P.O. Box 1179
p F~ t Southold, New York 11971
Telephone (631) 765-1283 Ext.235y'A
Fax (631) 765-9015
Deer Management Program Committee
MINUTES March 30, 2013 Meeting
6:30 P.M. in the Conference Room, Annex
Present were: Chairman, Jeff Standish; Members: Councilman Bill Ruland, Laura Klahre, John Haas,
David Dominy, Adam West and Nancy Foote
Call to order: Chairman Jeff Standish called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. Below are
discussion items:
Jeff Standish reviewed program harvest numbers on and off Town properties for years 2008 - 2012.
Numbers harvested on Town properties are down due to lack of food (no acorns), hunting pressure
has pushed them out and the deer have simply spread out due to the lack of food.
Jeff discussed the push for having the 500' setback law changed to 150'. The committee reviewed a
own map depicting the contrast of the two setback boundaries. The new law would increase
hunting acreage at all Town properties, allowing more areas to be hunted, more hunters on the
properties. Jeff recently attended a Cornell seminar with County Legislators. One topic discussed
was to have this setback law handled at the local level instead of at the State level. The challenge in
having laws changed is that the voting is done on a state level and not specifically targeted to where
the law needs to be changed. Scott Russell and Al Krupski are pushing for this change at the local
level. Jeff believes that this law will be changed at the local level eventually with the support it is
receiving locally and from the DEC. There is no opposition at the local level, residents are seeing and
living the devastation of the exploding deer population. Other laws being reviewed: Allow Saturday
and Sunday hunting, allow bow hunting during shotgun season, have more than one hunter on a
private permit.
Jeff asked the committee to give some thought for more incentives for the program. Open more
property perhaps?
- Jeff gets numerous calls for hunting on private property but most areas are eliminated due the to the
500' setback law. Dave Dominy believes the deer are being "fenced" out and hunting properties are
shrinking. John Haas suggested approaching the Peconic Land Trust to hunt their properties. Jeff
informed the committee that PLT has their own program only allowing one hunter per parcel per year.
They also charge a fee.
- Laura Klahre suggested applying for a grant under the Quarter Per Cent Sales Tax program.
Requesting $11,000 in the grant, stating the need for forest regeneration and address the deer tick
diseases. The Town of Southold could contract USDA sharpshooters to hunt four days on two
• separate areas to focus the effort on the North Fork. Jeff thought this program would be good at
certain times of the year. John Haas suggested March. Nassau Point hired USDA two years in a row
to help cull the herd on the peninsula. The Town could match the grant with the harvested deer
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donated.,toathe Venison Coalition program. The committee would like to discuss the idea further with
Legislator Al Krupski and Supervisor Russell.
John Haas would like to see crossbow hunting allowed during bow season. Many mature hunters,
*o longer being able to hunt with a bow are being benched. There are not many young hunters
coming up the ranks to replace them. Hunting Safety courses are being offered during the school
year, midweek but kids are too busy to attend these classes. Dave Dominy informed the committee
that in the Midwest classes are offered as part of the school curriculum. Jeff added that for kids
today, there's just not enough time for the sport.
- Bill Ruland suggested contacting the Tick Task Force for help. This organization has a common
interest with hunting and may be able to the help the efforts for having laws changed. Other
Townships could aid in the effort as well.
- Jeff thought contacting the local insurance industry to gain additional support for law changes. So
many deer collide with autos every year causing extensive damage.
- Get more press for Deer Management Program can increase support of hunting in Southold and
support of law changes.
- Other hunting incentives discussed: donated prizes, "Golden Arrow" award for most deer harvested.
Other discussion: The DEC has changed the nuisance permit dates to Feb 1 thru Sept 15. There will
be exceptions extended to certain farmers. More deer are harvested during bow season than during
nuisance permit season.
Most hunters prefer not to hunt during summer. The venison yielded during the summer season is
undesirable.
Deer are eating all new area growth and saplings, trees are not being replenished. Jeff reported a
study Cornell Cooperative did where they planted white and red oaks, covered some and left others
exposed. Neither lasted a day. Laura suggested placing saplings in grow tubes.
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 PM. The next committee meeting has not been scheduled.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Foote
Committee Secretary
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