HomeMy WebLinkAboutIthaca Deer Management Program Proposal 01-03-2022January 3, 2022
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Town of Ithaca
Deer Management Program Proposal
February 1 – March 31, 2022
Deer Management Program Approved by the Town of Ithaca Town Board on February 11, 2019
Ithaca Town Board Resolution No. 2019-021
Authorization to apply for DDP for 2022 by the Town of Ithaca Town Board on December 29, 2021
Ithaca Town Board Resolution No. 2021-163a
In May 2017, the Town of Ithaca Conservation Board presented a report (Deer Management:
Recommended Actions for the Town of Ithaca) to the Ithaca Town Board regarding the overabundance of
White-tailed deer in the Town of Ithaca. This report outlined the history and justification of deer
management (health and human safety, ecological, agricultural losses, car-deer collisions, NYSDEC Deer
Management Focus Area), a review of local deer management programs in Tompkins County (Village of
Trumansburg, Cornell University, Village of Cayuga Heights, Village of Lansing), and provided
recommendations for a potential Town of Ithaca deer management program (form sub-committee, utilize
NYSDEC Deer Damage Permits for a Town program, measure impacts of deer to assess effectiveness of
program, coordinate efforts with adjacent municipalities and Cornell University, etc.). The Ithaca Town
Board reviewed and discussed this report and in September 2017, formally established a Deer
Management Committee. This Committee met several times in the spring and summer of 2018 and held
a public meeting in May 2018 seeking feedback on the report and the potential of a deer management
program. The public feedback received was very positive regarding deer management in the Town and
the Town Board agreed to move forward with establishing a program. The Town received a DDP from
NYSDEC in February 2019 to use three properties through mid-April, but only harvested one deer. In 2020
the Town expanded the program to six locations, harvesting 20 deer. In 2021 the Town continued to
expand the program to 9 locations, harvesting 42 deer. The Town Board designated $3,000 in the 2022
Town budget for this program.
Based on input from the Town’s Conservation Board, the Town’s former Deer Management Committee,
representatives from Cornell University and other local municipal deer management programs, and the
new Town Deer Management Oversight Committee, the use of New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) approved Deer Damage Permits (DDP) – also known as nuisance
permits – is recommended to reduce deer numbers. This approach is not considered regular hunting and
for the Town of Ithaca program it proposes to use proficient archers (including crossbows) at baited
locations as the preferred low-cost method. Firearms could also be used at selected sites in the more
rural areas of the Town. What follows is believed to be the best approach to significantly reduce the deer
population and negative impacts of the high deer level in the Town of Ithaca.
It is anticipated that for this fourth year, nine sites will be used. The Town program, once fully
implemented, is designed to initially reduce the size of the deer population and then provide stability in
population numbers thereafter. It is proposed (pending DEC approval) that implementation of the deer
management program will start on February 1, 2022 and continue until March 31, 2022. A map showing
the properties where activities will occur will be available at Town Hall and will be posted on the Town of
Ithaca’s website (http://www.town.ithaca.ny.us/Deer). The Deer Management Oversight Committee will
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continue to review properties throughout the Town that are ideal locations given their size, expected deer
traffic, and availability of trees and cover for this and future years. The following is detailed information
on the Town of Ithaca deer management program.
1. Activities are proposed to occur from February 1, 2022 to March 31, 2022. The activities are
coordinated by Michael Smith, Senior Planner, Town of Ithaca, and he is assisted by members of
the Town of Ithaca Deer Management Oversight Committee. The Town’s Deer Management
Oversight Committee will review the success of the program and will reduce or expand activities
as needed based on deer harvests and assessment on ecological and other indicators. All
landowners will be kept informed about management activities (including who the participants
are on their property) in regular updates.
2. Tree stands will be placed (no screw insteps, ladder stands are preferred) at landowner approved
locations prior to the start of the program. A few branches may need to be trimmed to improve
shooting lanes. Shooting from elevated positions directs arrows/bullets into the ground after
passing through a deer. Trail monitoring cameras may be installed to capture deer activity. If
needed, locations may need to be shifted slightly or abandoned. Each landowner will be informed
about any activities on their properties, as indicated by landowner preferences.
3. Participants will primarily be using vertical bows or crossbows, but could potentially use a firearm
in selected locations in the more rural areas of the Town.
4. Activities will occur as needed to allow for variations in weather conditions, deer movement
patterns and participants’ availability. There will be the use of supplemental lights after dark that
will allow for safe, highly accurate shots at very close range. Several of the participants are
experienced in using this approach and any new ones will be trained if they desire to use
supplemental light. Deer use patterns at bait will be monitored using infrared trail cameras to
target the best possible times to utilize locations.
5. All participants are required to follow all Town rules and laws, NYS laws, and any expressed
landowner preferences. It is the right of each landowner, if so desired, to select individuals among
approved participants who may be permitted access to their property, the times or dates
participants are allowed on properties, stand locations, parking locations, or access routes as
desired. The agreement to use properties can be terminated by landowners at any time by
notifying the Town of Ithaca Town Clerk (townclerk@town.ithaca.ny.us).
6. Which days and stands will be used cannot be predicted in advance, as this will depend on
individual time schedules, wind direction, weather, and previous use of stand locations. To
prevent overuse, the use of resting periods of 1-2 weeks between activity periods will allow deer
to fall back into their usual use patterns. Baiting will continue during the resting periods.
7. Participants will be in trees using camouflage and will use flashlights to locate shot deer or to walk
in or out of the woods; therefore, landowners may notice a slow-moving flashlight. If deer cannot
be readily retrieved due to poor blood trails, approved tracking dogs are available to help in
locating the wounded deer. In very rare circumstances, tracking may occur the next morning with
better light. Landowners will be alerted to any of these possibilities and will have access to cell
phone numbers of participants.
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8. Occasionally a mortally wounded deer may run beyond property boundaries. All participants will
have information about property boundaries when in the field. This information will include
phone numbers of landowners and neighbors who need to be notified if a search extends beyond
the approved properties. If necessary, the participant will ask permission to retrieve a deer,
unless pre-authorization to retrieve deer from a property exists. An attempt will be made to
inform all immediate neighbors on these activities, regardless of whether a deer ever leaves an
approved property.
9. Participants will keep track of and report all shots (arrows/bullets) using a secure website
(Qualtrics website).
10. All shot deer will be removed discretely and not be field dressed on properties, unless previously
approved by the landowner. Arrows usually pass through deer and fall close to the spot where a
deer was hit, but occasionally will remain in the deer. Every effort will be made to retrieve arrows.
11. All harvested deer will be consumed by participants, landowners, or donated. As many deer as
possible will be dropped off to an approved venison donation processor for distribution to local
food banks and pantries for families that can benefit from the meat.
12. In most instances, landowners and neighbors will not notice activities or the killing of a deer, since
it happens fast. However, despite all precautions and skills, deer may be wounded, may not expire
immediately, collapse on neighboring properties or may not be found. Every effort will be made
(including the possible use of a trained dog) to recover all animals.
13. The Town Deer Management Oversight Committee will review activities and success in regular
intervals and determine if activities should continue or be terminated based on activities and
number of deer harvested.
14. The Deer Management Oversight Committee will provide regular updates to the Town Board,
including the number of deer harvested, which will also be posted on the Town’s website
(http://www.town.ithaca.ny.us/Deer).
15. The goal of the program is to reduce deer numbers to levels where forest regeneration and
survival of browse sensitive plants within the Town of Ithaca is once again possible. In addition,
the program seeks to reduce deer tick populations to levels where Lyme disease risks are
minimized, reduce vehicle collusions with deer, and reduce agricultural crop damage. With
assistance from the Town of Ithaca Conservation Board and/or Cornell University, the ecological
success of deer reductions in the Town may be assessed using oak sentinels or other methods.
16. Given the high deer densities and the articulated ecological and health goals, the program will
aim to target both antlered and antlerless deer. This requires approval by the NYSDEC.
Participants shooting bucks will be required to saw off antlers and antlers will be delivered to the
NYSDEC by the Town.
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Town of Ithaca Contacts:
Michael Smith, Senior Planner
Email: msmith@town.ithaca.ny.us
Office Phone: 607-273-1747 (ext. 123)
Cell Phone: 607-592-6006
William Goodman, Deputy Town Supervisor
Email: bgoodman@town.ithaca.ny.us
Office Phone: 607-273-1721
Cell Phone: 607-592-6745
Rod Howe, Town Supervisor
Email: rhowe@town.ithaca.ny.us
Office Phone: 607-273-1721
Cell Phone: 607-592-9908