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Guilford Deer Management Program Deemed Success

After years of controversy and planning, the deer management program moved forward this past fall, allowing hunting on the East River Preserve for the first time since the town purchased the parcel. Hunting wrapped up in November 2016 and, after speaking with hunters and members of the Deer Management Committee, town officials said the first year of the program is considered a success.

The East River Preserve, a 584-acre property, was purchased for $14.5 million in 2009 from the Goss family. Back in January 2012, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) approved a management plan put forward by the East River Preserve Planning Committee—a plan that drew some criticism because it included hunting on the property. At the time, no hunting would be allowed to move forward until a safe and practical deer management plan was established and approved.

Over the next several years, the Deer Management Committee, established as a part of the East River Management Plan in 2012, conducted research to establish a deer management plan designed “to ensure that the ecological values and uses of this protected open space are managed to sustain and, where necessary, restore the property’s natural resource values by conserving a diverse and healthy suite of habitats,” according to a release from the East River Preserve Deer Management Committee.

With the plan approved and in place, bow hunting for deer control was conducted on the property Monday through Friday from Oct. 15 through Nov. 15. Environmental Planner Kevin Magee said 17 hunters, who were selected through a lottery system after passing a background check and a proficiency test, participated in the program. Only bow hunting was allowed as a safety precaution and hunters shot from tree stands to ensure they shot at an angle toward the ground.

“The hunters think it went well,” said Magee. “Being the first year out there it went well. We had no report of problems with hunters—they had no issues with the public, so all of that went well.”

Magee said there was some vandalism of the signs notifying the public about the hunt, but said it was a minor issue. While the hunters said the program went well, Magee said the number of deer killed—seven—was lower than expected.

“The harvest was probably lower than expected, but I think part of it was they started off in warmer weather so the animals were not moving around as much...That was a note the hunters made,” he said.

Despite the low number, Magee said the hunters confirmed there are large populations of deer all over the property.

“They saw from the stands several large groups of deer, but the deer were farther away from the stands than what they could take a shot at” he said. “They were able to identify a couple different herds of deer out there and that is one of the good things about this is having eyes in the woods.”

The goal of the program is to reduce the deer population to allow vegetation and other animals to return to the area. Since the first year went well, Magee said the town is likely to continue the program.

“It is something we are going to continue next year most likely since there were no incidents,” he said. “The deer management plan they are following indicated a three-year program and then re-evaluation, so you can’t really make any determination off of the first year. It is going to be a several-year process for results to actually show.”