Quote:
Originally Posted by SAB1
Correct. There was controlled archery hunting allowed on the island for a number of years. I donĀ’t know if they still do it but no one was hired for that. Baiting was allowed as the deer density was much to high. Posted land seems to be popping up more and more now. That will contribute to higher deer numbers.
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The "deer reduction program," as the BWMANH (
https://sites.google.com/view/bwmanh/home) prefers to call it (not "hunting"), is ongoing every fall. The program was started some years ago in designated areas having excessively high deer populations, such as Long Island. Tree stands and baiting are used. Owner signed permission is required, and a lot must have at least one acre, separately or when combined with an abutter also giving permission. Owners can impose any conditions at all when giving permission. Since the inception of the program on Long Island, the deer have not been eating all the low leaf growth quite the way they did before, and the average weight and general health of the deer taken have improved, so the program is good for the deer as well as for the island itself.
There are indeed many who don't support the program, even though they have enough area to participate. I think this really is a case of "if you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem."