Lloyd Harbor resident Jeff Bartels, a self described "Town Birddog" can't believe his own words, but he called Huntington Town officials last week to complain that there would be NO DEER CULLING in October, November or December this year. Every year prior, Mr. Bartels, whose Fiddler's Green property is very near to Caumsett State Park, has complained because the fall culling went on in the middle of the night and the shotgun blasts woke him up.
Thanks to George Gorman, deputy director of New York State Parks for Long Island, the hunters, who are sharpshooters, now use silencers, so Mr. Bartels can sleep through the night. But recently, Mr. Bartels noticed a sign on the Caumsett State Park gate that read that the park was closed for “Park Maintenance”. He said he knew that was not the case, so he called New York State Parks Department.
Mr. Bartels spoke with George Gorman, last week and Mr. Gorman admitted that the sign was misleading and of course it meant they were culling. Mr. Gorman said the responsibility for changing the schedule at Caumsett lies with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the DEC. He agreed to ask for a meeting about the issue. Since now that there is no hunting allowed in Caumsett State Park in October, November and December this year, that means the culling will go on in January and the spring when the does are in foal.
Mr. Bartels objects to their “killing two deer with one bullet, the doe and her unborn fetus.” The culling is also going on at the Catholic Seminary of The Immaculate Conception in Lloyd Harbor, but according to Mr. Gorman, the State is not paying for the culling at the seminary.
Mr. Gorman agreed to ask the DEC for a meeting to discuss their changing of the culling schedule that happened about three years ago, according to him. The last meeting on the issue was over ten years ago he said.
Freelance contacted Huntington Town press liaison A.J. Carter, to find out if as Mr. Gorman said, the Town might be paying for the culling at the Seminary. According to Mr. Carter, "The Seminary is in the Incorporated Village of Lloyd Harbor, so the Town has no jurisdiction or involvement in what is or is not happening on that property. The Town also has no direct knowledge of what the village is doing. "
An Email to the Village officials in Lloyd Harbor asking if they pay for the culling on the Seminary property, remains unanswered at time of press.
Freelance also awaits any response from the Seminary regarding who is paying for the culling on their property and if the Seminary has a problem with killing does and their unborn fetuses in the spring culling.
The DEC was sent a list of question regarding the issue:
Will there be a meeting regarding this issue?
Why is the culling schedule for Caumsett different than for the rest of the state?
Was it changed three or for years ago? If so, why and at whose request?
Does the DEC purposely cull in the spring knowing the bullet will kill both the doe and potentially her unborn fetus as well? Is this considered a humane procedure?
At time of press the media liason has not responded to the questions.
