REDDING'S CONTROLLED DEER HUNTS
Managed bow hunting of deer on certain Redding public lands will occur again this year from September 15, 2010 until January 31, 2011. The Conservation Commission requested and approved these hunts in 2005 in an effort to significantly reduce the deer population of Redding.
The Town's goal is to reduce deer from the current excessive levels that are causing destruction of the woodlands with loss of plants and wildlife, high numbers of deer-vehicle accidents and the spread of Lyme disease. We aim to reduce deer to a level that is compatible with balance in the forest, protection of water quality (deer damage to plants causes erosion in watershed areas), and the halting of Lyme disease. A five year plan with three years of deer reduction will result in a significant drop in deer tick populations at the end of that period, which should be sufficient to prevent the spread of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. We recognize that this is an ambitious plan but one that is essential to the preservation of healthy biodiversity in the woodlands, and of public health and safety.
Public cooperation and tolerance are critical to the success of this plan.
Archery hunts will be performed on several areas of town owned land. Each parcel will have notices posted that hunting is in progress at that time. The controlled hunts begin on September 15 and will be held at the following properties (which are mapped and can be identified further in the Redding "Book of Trails" available at Town Hall):
Gallows Hill Natural Area -accessed at 142 Gallows Hill Rd
Limekiln Natural Area -accessed at 113 Limekiln Rd
Little River south section- accessed at 88 and 100 Cross Highway,
"Stormfield" at 391 Redding Rd
Old Edwards Farm at Sunset Hill Rd and Blackrock Turnpike
Kruger Property on Stage Coach Road
The Levine Property (off Glen Hill Road)
Saugatuck Falls, West of the power lines (Granite Ridge Rd).
-The Rock Lot (Seventy Acre Road)
-Granskog property (100 Giles Hill Rd)
Parcels accessed at
-40 Dayton Rd
-372 Blackrock Turnpike
-100 Sunset Hill Road
The safety of this program is of primary importance. The entrances to these properties are all posted with red/orange warning signs (see attached). The areas will not be closed to the public during the hunts but walkers are advised to stay on the trails and to keep dogs on the trails if within these areas. The management effort takes place in select areas of the parcels, away from the edges, away from trails and from any neighboring residences. Bow-hunting takes place from elevated portable tree stands set up in trees 15 ft or so above ground with the hunters shooting down directly at their targets. The hunters participating in the controlled hunt are experienced sportsmen with knowledge of the local area and are giving their time and effort as volunteers, performing a valuable community service.
VENISON DONATION PROGRAM
A proportion of the venison obtained from Redding's town hunts and from private property harvests will again be donated to a "Hunters for the Hungry" program, a national program that allows donations of venison for distribution to local charities and food pantries. To help facilitate this and allow hunters to continue hunting instead of processing the meat, we ask that private donations of any amount be made to cover the cost of professional butchering ($60 per deer). Checks can be sent year round made out to "Venison Donation Program, Town of Redding" and sent to Venison Donation Program c/o, Stephen Gniadek, Controller, Town Hall, P.O. Box 1028 Redding, CT 06875-1028
PRIVATE LAND DEER MANAGEMENT
Hunting will also continue in September 2010 on private land throughout the hunting season, September 15, 2010 - January 31, 2011, as in years past. As 70% of Redding is private residential land and only 5% is town owned, access granted by private landowners is extremely important to the success of the deer reduction program.
For the next 3 years we would like to ask an extra 50 to 100 homeowners to offer the use of their land for hunting during the limited season. If you have a parcel that routinely hosts a number of deer and has suitable trees for siting an elevated tree stand in a secluded area, please let the deer wardens know. There is no minimum acreage required.
Any questions or concerns and to take part in the effort to save our woodlands and stop Lyme disease, please contact the Redding deer warden's office: (203) 948 2844
|