Letchworth opening special 'archery only' area inside park

Talk about sightings and get help identifying Plants, Animals, Fish, and Fungi. Share pictures and video.

Moderators: Brenda, Kelly

Post Reply
User avatar
Matt
President
President
Posts: 13374
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:01 pm
Camera Model: Olympus OMD EM-1 m1, m2; Panasonic GM5, Osmo Pocket
Location: Rochester, NY
Contact:

Hunting in Letchworth has been a very controversial topic in Wyoming County.

Letchworth opening special 'archery only' area inside park
LETCHWORTH STATE PARK -- A late archery season is being offered to reduce the deer population in the park's southern end.

A special "archery only" area will be open Nov. 30 to Dec. 22. Hunters will be allowed to take 50 antlerless deer.

"Based on the research and study that were done by the biologist and environmental staff, and the public comments from the meeting we held, the majority were in support of it," said Park Manger Rich Parker. "We're doing a special late archery hunt and it's does only."

Applications are being accepted for the special permits, which will be awarded through a lottery. The drawing will be conducted Nov. 4.

The decision was difficult and the park recognizes it's an emotional issue, Parker said. The special season's being conducted in an area where hunting wasn't previously allowed.

Some residents expressed safety and trespassing concerns during the Sept. 2 public hearing in Castile. The park has its own concerns, he said, and wanted to make sure the season's safe.

The hunting will be conducted at a time when the Glen Iris Inn and other nearby facilities are closed, he said. It's the traditional hunting season, and the vast majority of visitors are deer hunters.

"It's sort of a down time for us as it is," Parker said.

The park is also increasing its signage and creating a "buffer zone" between its boundaries, and those of neighboring properties. Participating hunters will need to attend a Nov. 18 orientation meeting before the season begins.

State park officials and biologists have cited the general deer overpopulation, estimated at 60 to 120 deer per square mile. The animals have stripped the non-hunting areas of most greenery they can reach, including several rare plant species.

That lack of vegetation is allowing invasive species to enter the park and potentially fill the gaps where native plants were traditionally found.

But some residents have objected, saying the hunting won't work, and is an attempt to raise more money for the state.

Those interested in special season permits may call the park at (585) 493-3600 for applications.


http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/artic ... 039186.txt
User avatar
backpacker
Board Expert
Board Expert
Posts: 881
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:16 am
Camera Model: Nikon D90, D40x, Lenses Nikor 12-24, 18-105 vr, 18-135, 70-300 vr, sigma 150-5oo os
Location: Oriskany Falls

To bad I don't live closer,
other parks do the same,
I think it's a good idea and Archery is a close range sport.
The Mountains are Calling and I must Go John Muir
my flickr gallery
46er interview
User avatar
Matt
President
President
Posts: 13374
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:01 pm
Camera Model: Olympus OMD EM-1 m1, m2; Panasonic GM5, Osmo Pocket
Location: Rochester, NY
Contact:

I think it's a good idea, since the park is overrun with deer.
User avatar
Matt
President
President
Posts: 13374
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:01 pm
Camera Model: Olympus OMD EM-1 m1, m2; Panasonic GM5, Osmo Pocket
Location: Rochester, NY
Contact:

Pro-Con | Should hunting be used to control deer overpopulation in communities nationwide?

YES

Despite the complaints of a few neighbors, the hunt planned this fall by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority is needed to protect watershed land and reduce the number of deer to a population the land can sustain without being damaged.

The authority has taken precautions to make the North Branford hunt as safe as possible. The hunters can use only bows and arrows, must hunt from tree stands and cannot fire arrows more than 75 feet.

Only 90 bowhunters will be allowed to participate, and the hunting area will be closed to the public. The hunters must hold a state archery permit, pass an archery proficiency test and attend a hunting safety meeting.

Hungry deer are devouring small trees and seedlings needed to prevent erosion and maintain the watershed’s forest. In their pursuit of food, the deer are stripping trees and wandering into neighboring developments, where they eat homes’ shrubbery.

The deer in the area are four times what the land can support, and many deer starve in winter.

| New Haven (Conn.) Register editorial

NO

Letchworth State Park has a Whitetail deer problem and is being stripped of its rare, varied plant life.

The deer also are spreading invasive species that are making the situation even worse, and the deer overpopulation has led to 61 motor vehicle collisions in the area over the past five years.

Letchworth officials are considering a late archery season to reduce the deer population in the sanctuary area of the park’s southern end, where hunting has been prohibited for years. Under the plan, 50 permits would be issued to hunters and the season would be conducted in December.

There are good arguments on both sides of this issue, but we believe Letchworth’s sanctuary area should remain just that. Hunting isn’t the only effective way of controlling deer populations and protecting rare plant life.

Other methods should be tried before hunting is even considered. We don’t think every one of those alternatives has been attempted. Letchworth State Park is one of the most beautiful natural areas of Western New York.

Hunting is permitted in other areas of the park. Preserving one area as a sanctuary from such activity doesn’t seem unreasonable.

| Editorial, The (Batavia, N.Y.) Daily News
http://www.kansascity.com/273/story/1509037.html
Post Reply