Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/13/2011 ttiFFQ(X ;p\O COG JAMES C. McMAHON Town Hall, 53095 Main Road Chairman y H y P.O. Box 1179 rft Southold, New York 11971 Telephone (631) 765-1283 Ext.235 y,~ O! V Fax (631) 765-9015 Deer Management Committee TOWN OF SOUTHOLD MINUTES October 13, 2011 7:00 P.M. Southold Town Hall, Conference Room A meeting of the Deer Management Committee was held Thursday, October 13, 2011 at the Town Hall, Conference Room, Main Road in Southold. Present were: Jeff Standish, Chairperson • Councilman, Al Krupski Adam West, Member John Rumpler, Member Laura Klahre, Land Preservation Representative Tom Gadomski, Guest John Haas, Member John Rasweiler, Member Nancy Foote, Committee Secretary Call to order Jeff Standish called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Discussion Program Update - Jeff Standish began the meeting by updating the committee on the first two weeks of the program. To date there has been 28 deer harvested, 15 on Town properties and 13 on other properties. Twenty four have been donated to the refrigerated truck and transported to the Fish and Wildlife Unlimited for processing. Jeff also reported that there are a lot of baby deer in the Bayview area. It is believed that the winter will be rough on the yearlings, since they can't reach food and snow cover will take its toll. The deer will die off this year or next since food is scarce. Jeff and Laura Klahre are working with Suffolk County to possibly make available for hunting County owned properties and properties owned jointly by the County and the Town of Southold. Jeff would like to see the County program handled in a similar manner to the Town ~MP with 50% Southold Town residents and 50% Suffolk County residents. They will report back to the committee of any progress made in the coming weeks. 1 Rules of Hunting - Jeff reported to the committee an incident involving a hunter who received a violation three years ago, who was ticketed and paid the fine. This hunter is now in the Town program. A complaint was Weported by a homeowner in regards to this particular hunter, wanting him dismissed from the program. At a previous meeting the committee voted to keep hunters on the program if they had not violated any of the Town's hunting rules. Supervisor Russell and Jeff had previously discussed developing specific protocol for a hunter with certain violations when participating on the town program. At the August 25, 2011 meeting, Jeff asked the committee for input on hunters who have past violations who would like to be in either hunting program. The entire committee agreed that if the violation wasn't big enough for the government (DEC) to convict or take the hunting license away, the committee won't bar participation in the Town Programs as long as it's only a minor offense. Jeff Standish has asked to committee to come up with specific protocol outlining when a hunter is asked to leave the program. Guest Tom Gadomski was present to provide the committee with information on the levels of violation (ie: not wearing your backtag or trespassing), misdemeanors (ie: discharging firearm within 500 feet of a residence), and felonies. The DEC handles each incident individually and when a hunter is issued two violations within an 18 month period, the DEC can revoke their hunting license. Jeff discussed the questionnaire that went out before the Town program this year outlining the hunters history including a violation history. Filling it out and returning questionnaire was voluntary. A few hunters disclosed past violations. The Town program has rules as outlined in the program handout. Councilman Krupski added that if a hunter is in violation of one of the Town rules, they are out of the program. John Haas believes the committee should honor DEC laws. What the DEC would normally do as punishment should be the guideline, if the committee decides over the DEC law it opens the Town up to arbitration. Further discussion followed with ideas on how to handle violations within the program: 1 strike, the hunter is put on probation, 2 strikes hunter is out of the program. A felony would be automatic dismissal from the program. Any violation within two years will be held against the hunter. Hiding a past violation will also put a hunter out of the Town program. John Haas reminded the committee that hunters sign an affidavit, legally binding them to •the answers they provide on the Town application. Further discussion involved time limits on violations. The consensus was two years. Jeff outlined the Town rules which follow the DEC laws. Councilman Krupski and Jeff agreed that the Town can have rules and enforce them. John Haas added to have our rules and enforce our rules but thought the DEC can enforce the laws, so not to get caught in the middle. Laura believes the rules for the Town are loosely written and thought probation time limits need to be spelled out. She suggested that after a two years time, the hunter will be off probation. Other Properties - Peconic Land Trust (PLT) has their own deer hunting program. Jeff Standish does not believe it's an effective program. The committee suggested that Town of Southold partner with PLT to improve their program. Councilman Krupski offered to contact PLT and have Jeff and himself attend the December meeting or make an appointment to meet with PLT. Children Huntine -The committee discussed and decided that no child would be permitted to hunt with their parent on Town program unless they area licensed junior hunter. The committee agreed to take this cautious approach with Town Hunting properties for safety reasons. Nassau Point - John Rasweiler informed the committee of the progress being made with the USDA program on Nassau Point. The thought at this point is to let the regular hunters have a chance to hunt the area and bring in the sharp shooters in February. The meeting was adjourned 8:20 PM. The next meeting was not scheduled at this time. • Respectfully submitted, Nancy Foote Deer Management Program Committee Secretary 2