Audubon Greenwich

 

Deer Management Plan

2004-2005 Season

 

Greenwich , Connecticut

 

Introduction

 

In August 2003, the Board of Directors of Audubon Greenwich endorsed the Management Plan for the Control of White-tailed Deer at the Audubon Center for the reasons specified in the study prepared by Kenichi Shono, dated August 5, 2003 .  That Plan established the need for deer management on the basis of damage to the sanctuary ecosystem caused by excessive browsing of vegetation by deer and other related impacts on the bio-diversity of the sanctuary.  The Board of Directors of Audubon Connecticut endorsed the Management Plan, and the Plan received approval from Tom Baptist, Audubon CT Executive Director in September 2003.  The State Director determined that the Management Plan was in conformance with the December 12, 2002 Audubon Connecticut Policy on managing healthy habitats on Audubon properties in the state. 

 

At its June, 2004 meeting, the Board of Directors endorsed the expansion of the deer management program to include the 136 acre Audubon Fairchild Wildflower Garden on North Porchuck Road , subject to the approval of the State Director.  The details of deer control measures affecting both the Fairchild garden and Audubon Center property for the duration of the 2004 and 2005 hunting season are described herein.

 

 

The 2004-2005 Plan

 

Bowhunting will be the sole method to reduce deer numbers on the Audubon Fairchild Wildflower Garden and Audubon Center property for the fall and winter season 2004-2005.  All hunting activity will take place in compliance with relevant state regulations. Only hunters that receive written approval from the State Director and receive prior vetting by the Greenwich Sportsmen and Landowner’s Association (GSLA) will be invited to perform the hunt.  All hunting privileges are revocable by the State Director and all hunting activity will be subject to the supervision of the Center manager, Audubon personnel under her direction, and the officers of GSLA.

 

Current estimated deer population

 

Audubon Center (285 acres) - 50-60 deer (25-40 females, 15-25 males).

Fairchild Wildflower Garden (136 acres) - 25-35 deer (12-29 females, 10-14 males).

 

 

2004-2005 Objectives

 

The purpose of the deer reduction program is not to eliminate the deer population on Audubon land, but to reduce it to a level where deer and their habitat are in balance.  As indicated in the August 5, 2003 study (referenced above), the ultimate goal of the program is to reduce the number of deer to a concentration of ten to fifteen deer per square mile, or five to seven on the Audubon Center property.  This further translates to three to five deer on the Audubon Fairchild Garden. The goal of the 2004-2005 management program is to reduce the deer population by 40, at least 35 of which will be females.

 

 

Specifics of the 2004-2005 Program

 

1.      The Audubon Center property may be hunted from Monday through Friday, from October 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005 , from 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. each day.  Each hunter must be down from his/her tree stand, weaponless, and in street clothes by 9:00 a.m.   From October 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005 , hunting may occur on the Audubon Fairchild Wildflower Garden on each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 4:00 a.m. to dusk.

2.      Only hunters receiving written approval of the State Director and who have also been successfully vetted by GSLA will be permitted to hunt on Audubon land.  All hunters participating in this program must pass a proficiency test to be administered by GSLA.

3.      Whenever hunting on Audubon property, each hunter must have possession of the written permission form signed by the State Director, a hunting license, and CT archery tags.

4.      Prior to any hunting on Audubon land, GSLA must provide to the Center Director the names of each hunter, their vehicle type and license plate number, and proof of arrow identification.

5.      Permission slips signed by the State Director for the 2004-05 season will be distributed at GSLA September meeting.

6.      Public access to the Audubon Center and Fairchild Wildflower Garden will be prohibited during times when hunting is occurring.

7.      When hunting at the Audubon Center , all hunters shall access, park their vehicles at, and remove deer from, the Center Maintenance building driveway, or from the property of Steve Geller, 43 Sterling Road .

8.      When hunting the Audubon Fairchild Wildflower Garden , all hunters shall access, park their vehicles and remove deer from, the Audubon parking lot on North Porchuck Road , or at the property of  Eugene Cam at 99 Porchuck Road .

9.      All media coordination, publicity, and neighbor notification will be the responsibility of the Center Director, working with the State Director.  GSLA will defer all press contact to Audubon personnel with regard to GSLA activities on Audubon land.

10.  Audubon will “post” entrances and neighbor access points to both properties with information relating to the hunt and its time and duration.

11.  GSLA will notify the Greenwich Police Department of the specifics of the hunt, including the names of participating hunters, and vehicle identification of each hunter.

12.  Tree stand locations for the 2004-2005 season are to be determined before September 15, 2004 and reviewed and approved by Center personnel.

 

 

13.  The location of each tree stand is to be identified on a map located at the Audubon Maintenance building, with the name of the hunter using each stand. Tree stands must be marked with 2 plastic loop ties.  Any tree stand found by Audubon personnel that does not contain the proper identification will be immediately removed.

14.  Hunters may field dress deer provided that all entrails are buried under leaves a minimum of 50 yards from any hiking trail.

15.  Audubon will pay for the expense of butchering each deer (approximately $45 per deer) provided GSLA transports each deer to the authorized, licensed butcher and then to the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County . GSLA will invoice Audubon monthly for reimbursement of butchering costs.

16.  Audubon is responsible for all coordination with the CT Department of Environmental Protection.  Audubon will collect deer data requested by the DEP for study purposes.  A special emphasis will be placed on examination of deer health and fitness.

17.  Check-in for both properties begins at 4 a.m. at the Audubon Maintenance building off Riversville Road .  Each participating hunter must sign-in and sign-out on a daily basis on the forms provided by Audubon. 

18.  All deer taken must be reported to Audubon managers daily from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Audubon Maintenance building or, if a late afternoon hunt at Fairchild Garden , checked in the next morning beginning at 7 a.m.

19.  Each deer killed on Audubon land will be donated by the hunter to the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County in Stamford , CT.  

20.  Baiting of deer on Audubon land will be permitted, provided that all baiting is in conformance with the rules and regulations of the CT DEP.

21.  This management plan and hunting protocol set forth herein will be monitored and reviewed daily and weekly and adjustments may be made as necessary for safety and effectiveness.

 

Approved:

                               

Thomas R. Baptist                                                                   

Vice President and Executive Director                                       Prepared by:

Madeline Dennis,

            August 23, 2004