Westchester Woman Puts State Officials On Notice About Bow-hunting in Rockefeller Preserve

PLEASANTVILLE, NY — A Hartsdale resident has served New York state officials with a Notice of Dangerous Condition regarding hunting in Westchester County. Specifically, she is putting them on notice about bow-hunting for deer in Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Mount Pleasant.

Her argument is that hunting deer in the park could lead to collisions and cause the public physical harm or emotional distress. State officials say the hunting is safe and necessary.

“Bow-hunting is unwarranted, extremely cruel, and puts the public and their pets at risk," Rebecca Sunshine, the Animal Defenders of Westchester member who served the notice, said in a press release. "Permitting bow-hunts with powerful deadly weapons while unsuspecting visitors are enjoying a park is exceedingly reckless and negligent. This is especially true of Rockefeller State Park Preserve, located in a populated suburban area. It is extremely irresponsible and pointless for Rockefeller State Park Preserve to conduct this dangerous bow-hunt when there are safe, humane, and non-lethal options for deer management available if proven needed. It is not unreasonable to demand that those visiting Rockefeller State Park Preserve be able to do so in safety.”

A Notice of Dangerous Condition is a legal document that forewarns those served that they are permitting a dangerous condition to be created. It is similar to notices about many public hazard conditions as a basis for establishing liability.

This Notice of Dangerous Condition was filed regarding the annual bow-hunt of deer conducted in Rockefeller State Park Preserve, October through December, Monday through Friday, dawn to dusk. It was filed with Gov. Andrew Cuomo; the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; the Regional Director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; and the Preserve Manager of Rockefeller State Park Preserve.

It states in part: “This may cause serious injuries to the general public as a result of impaling, goring, shooting or death, along with emotional and psychological distress to the public and other risks including the possibility of increased deer/car collisions resulting from frightened deer running into the road way."

Sunshine alleged that bow-hunting has been proven to be an ineffective method of deer management. And she cited research described by the Cary Institute that is asking questions about the link between deer and Lyme disease, and the link between deer populations and deforestation.

Officials at the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said that the Rockefeller State Park Preserve values white-tailed deer as part of our natural environment and the visitor experience.

Yet deer have grown so numerous in the Preserve and Westchester County that they are literally eating the forest of the future," said spokesman Randy Simons.

Dear eat native tree seedlings and saplings, leaving too few young trees to replace older trees that die; they eat wildflowers causing numerous species to disappear from the Preserve, especially the species that are very sensitive to deer browse, such as wild orchids, trillium, columbine, bloodroot, and Solomon seal. Many species of birds, native pollinators and wildlife are negatively affected by changes to the landscape caused by deer.

Sadly, they said, deer skip over the invasive, non-native plant species which are now abundant.

The Preserve has organized a managed bow hunt each autumn since 2006. The bow hunters are restricted to the Buttermilk Hill section of the Preserve, which is a very steep forested slope in the eastern section of the Preserve. They are allowed to hunt on non-holiday weekdays in October, November, and December – the regular bow season in Westchester County

Hunters need a specific permit, beyond the state license, in order to hunt in the park. The hunters are carefully selected based on their experience and skill. They have to apply, then pass a proficiency test, then attend orientation.

"Typically we see approximately 20-25 archers per year witch the number of deer taken ranging from 11 – 25," Simons said. "There have never been any injuries in the park related to bow-hunting."

Patch file photo