Oh, Deer! Much Debated Quadrupeds Get their Own Local Webpage

Now, the Town of East Hampton’s website www.ehamptonny.gov sports a freshly added “deer management” page, accomplishing one of the goals of the Town’s Deer Management Plan.

Features of the new page include contact information for hunters and landowners, so the Town can coordinate deer management on private property, as well as information on local venison donation, the Town and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC) deer management plans, a hunting guide and aerial survey results. Also included are educational links about the environmental impacts of deer, tick-borne illnesses and deer management in other parts of the country, among other related topics.

In related news, recently adopted state legislation reduces the required setback from buildings from 500 feet to 150 feet for bow hunters, thereby freeing up more space available to hunters to lessen the deer population. (Property owners must give hunters permission to be on their land.)

“I am pleased New York State has eased the restriction on bow hunting because more land will available for hunting, which is an important component in controlling the deer population,” said Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell.

Additionally, the new state budget includes a provision that gives crossbow hunters their own season in New York State. The provision allows hunting with a crossbow for all small game, including turkeys, and deer and bear within season.