HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/23/2016
Jeffery T. Standish
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
Chairman P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Telephone (631) 765-1283 Ext.235
Fax (631) 765-9015
Deer Management Committee
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
MINUTES
March 23, 2016
6:30 P.M.
Southold Town Annex Board Room
A meeting of the Deer Management Committee was held Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at the Southold Town
Annex Board Room, Youngs Ave, Southold.
Present were: Chairpersons Dave Dominy, Laura Klahre, Members: Adam West, Robert Lehnert, John
Scaramucci, John Rasweiler, Nancy Foote.
Call to order
:
Committee Goals –
Dave Dominy asked committee for specific goals to focus on for the coming year. Some
suggestions included: involving insurance companies and their statistics on deer related accidents. Laura
suggested elevating product (venison) by elevating demand. Publish venison recipes in local publications.
Expand on article in Edible magazine and blog for the website. Contact John Ross who writes a regular
cooking section in the Suffolk Times. If the sale of venison could be legalized, there would be more interest.
There has been a larger interest in venison consumption. Contact Amy Savato at Wine Spectator, health and
other high end magazines to publish articles and recipes for venison.
Dave would like to see deer signage on local roads updated. He suggested using map similar to East Hampton’s
deer reportage to pitch signage changes. It was suggested to speak to the transportation commission. Another
possibility is to install map on Town Police Dept. laptops to enable them to report dead deer on roads in a
timely manner.
The committee discussed putting a bounty on deer. Obtain grant money and money from other sources to move
the concept forward. Block Island offered a bounty and had an effective harvest with over 400 deer harvested.
Janet Coat, Director of Wildlife Management on Block Island declared an emergency with preservation of
health and habitat. John Rasweiler believes the legislative language needs to be changed. Make deer a
nuisance and then a bounty can be offered. Changes have to be made at State level. He would like to meet with
Chairperson of the Environmental Committee and Lobby in Albany for change.
Focusing the effort on tick related diseases could encourage more hunting and other programs for lowering the
deer population. The DEC is well educated but not educated in tick diseases. The Town Tick committee will
be sending their report to the DEC.
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A fact sheet can be developed for hunters and public explaining seriousness of tickborne illness. Average
person in Town is familiar with Lymes but more education on the connection between deer – ticks – illness is
needed. The Suffolk County pamphlet on tick borne illnesses can also be distributed.
Part Time Wildlife Position
– The paperwork for the new part time has been submitted to Civil Service. Once
the Town receives notification from Civil Service position will be posted.
End of Year Survey
– Committee reviewed the survey. Laura suggested having the survey on line and also
available in hard copy when the hunters pick up their packets. Perhaps fill out the survey before receiving their
packet or put them in the packets. Suggest to hunters to keep a journal during their hunting season so they can
refer to when filling out the survey.
Nuisance Season
- The Town Nuisance program to date has harvested 9 deer. Many of the properties will be
baited until March 31. It was suggested for next year’s season to assign hunters to certain zones. This year
hunters call in and reserve properties they want to hunt. Program may be more effective if night hunting was
permissible. Upstate NY allows night hunting and it is well received.
Other Business
– Comments were made on the DMP draft. The emphasis should be more future oriented, less
history. Introduce bounty language and sale of venison goals. Remove some of the “fluff”. Incorporate goals
into the document.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Foote
Deer Management Program
Secretary
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