I would hope that a deer census was performed and that hunting was deemed necessary.
Seems like birders might be more of an issue to hunters than hunters to birders and the birds. And note that it’s only open to bow hunting and from the ground or temporary stands. Also, if the gov’t shutdown continues, they won’t be able to issue permits! Larry From: gochfeld...@aol.com Sent: Friday, October 11, 2013 5:22 PM To: aiant...@earthlink.net ; NYSbirds-L@cornell.edu Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Deer hunting to be permitted on Shawangunk Grasslands NWR !!!!!!! What is the deer population there? Are there natural predators? What is the proposed length of season? There are other areas in NYS, not on refuges, where the deer population has exploded resulting in massive destruction of underbrush and the loss of habitat for understory birds. -----Original Message----- From: AJIT ANTONY <aiant...@earthlink.net> To: NYSbirds-L <NYSbirds-L@cornell.edu> Sent: Fri, Oct 11, 2013 4:55 pm Subject: [nysbirds-l] Deer hunting to be permitted on Shawangunk Grasslands NWR !!!!!!! One of the members Irene Warshauer of the Mearns Bird Club, Orange County, New York brought to the attention of our listserv members that the federal government is going to allow hunting of deer on Shawangunk Grasslands NWR [the old Galeville Airport] ! We only have a short time to respond, until October 24. I can see Short-eared Owls, Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks definitely being affected by hunting in the area, and affecting birding. If anyone is knowledgeable about the subject and has any specific information we can put in our comments, please post. Ajit I Antony M.D. http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/interior-department-proposes-expansion-of-hunting-fishing-opportunities-in-national-wildlife-refuge-system.cfm http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html for Hunting Season: Bow Hunting Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 and Dec. 9 - Dec. 17 Regular Hunting Season - Nov. 16 - Dec. 8 https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/09/24/2013-21804/2013-2014-refuge-specific-hunting-and-sport-fishing-regulations Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting.[RESERVED] B. Upland Game Hunting.[RESERVED] C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State of New York regulations and subject to the following conditions: 1. You must submit a Big/Upland Game Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2356) to hunt on the refuge. We require hunters to possess a signed refuge hunt permit (name and address only) at all times while scouting and hunting on the refuge. We charge a fee for all hunters except youth age 16 and younger. 2. We provide hunters with hunt maps and parking permits (name only), which they must clearly display in their vehicle. Hunters who park on the refuge must park in identified hunt parking areas. 3. We prohibit the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on the refuge. 4. We prohibit baiting on refuge lands (see � 32.2(h)). 5. We require hunters to wear (in a conspicuous manner) a minimum of 400 square inches (2,600 square centimeters) of solid-color, hunter-orange clothing or material on the head, chest, and back. 6. We prohibit hunters using or erecting permanent blinds. 7. We allow pre-hunt scouting beginning two weeks prior to the bow opener and continuing through the end of the deer season. 8. The refuge only allows archery equipment (crossbows permitted) to harvest deer. D. Sport Fishing.[RESERVED]Show citation box Request for Comments You may submit comment and materials on this proposed rule by any one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. We will not accept comments sent by email or fax or to an address not listed in the ADDRESSES section. We will not consider hand-delivered comments that we do not receive, or mailed comments that are not postmarked, by the date specified in the DATES section. We will post your entire comment on http://www.regulations.gov. Before including personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that we may make your entire comment�including your personal identifying information�publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov. Comments must be received within 30 days, on or before October 24, 2013. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods: a.. Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2013-0074, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. On the resulting screen, find the correct document and submit a comment by clicking on �Comment Now!� b.. By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-NWRS-2013-0074; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203. 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