Posted by Joe Cimoch on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 at 7:23PM :
In Reply to: Actually Chad New Jersey........ posted by Rob Blair on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 at 7:07PM :
We have a similar situation in Mass. on the island of Nantucket. The town voted to have a special hunting season for deer in February to control the deer and keep the deer ticks under control. We had a public referendum that banned trapping a few years back. Just ask the people whose homes are being flooded, and roads are being flooded over what they think about the warm furry beaver now. I guess you won't realize the value of wildlife management until it effects you.
On December 20, 2004, in response to a request from the town of Nantucket, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board voted to allow a one week deer hunting season on Nantucket in February of 2005. This special hunt is part of a long-term management strategy to both reduce high deer density (40-60 deer/square mile) and reduce deer ticks and thereby reducing the incidence of tick diseases.
The white tailed deer is a crucial link in the life cycle of the deer tick. Research has demonstrated that as deer populations increase, so do the number of deer ticks. Correspondingly, when deer numbers are reduced, ticks are less abundant. On Nantucket, a high percentage of these ticks are infected with and capable of transmitting a variety of tick related diseases some of which can cause serious health problems in people.
Reducing deer densities will be also result in improved natural habitat, benefiting not only deer, but many other wildlife and plant species. Hunting has been and continues to be a vital to this conservation and public health effort. Most islanders realize the need for reducing deer density through hunting and welcome responsible hunters. By participating safely, legally and ethically in this special winter season hunt, sportsmen and women will serve an important role in wildlife management on the Island.
This special deer hunting season will open on Monday, February 7 and continue through Saturday February 12, 2005. Hunters must possess a valid 2005 hunting or sporting license and purchase a Nantucket Special Deer Season permit and tags in order to participate in the Nantucket deer season. The permit will include 5 antlerless deer tags and one antlered deer tag for $25. The permit and tags will be valid only for this February season. (Do not use the antlered deer tags on your 2005 hunting license.) The taking of an antlered deer during this February season will not affect the 2005 fall bag limit of two antlered deer.
Hunters are reminded they are subject to all hunting laws found in the 2005 MassWildlife Fishing and Hunting Abstracts. Deer hunters may use shotguns, bow and arrows or muzzleloaders. Hunters must wear 500 square inches of hunter orange on chest, back and head. Rabbit hunting with dogs and rifles is prohibited during the one week deer season.
Hunters must check deer at the island check station at the Wastewater Treatment Facility on South Shore Road, before leaving the Island. Hunters who do not quarter or otherwise process their deer on the island should be aware that the Massachusetts Steamship Authority requires that when on the ferry, deer carcasses must be covered. There are no meat processors on the island who butcher deer.
Hunters should contact the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce at www.nantucketchamber.org or call at 508/228-1700 for lodging, dining and transportation options.