Normally, bow hunters would not look to insert their opinions into what should be a strictly- regulated, State-sponsored and highly supervised wildlife management operation. But unfortunately, after having witnessed the draconian measures the Village of Lloyd Harbor has utilized in their quest to reduce the whitetail population, this editorial was necessary. Hopefully, it will perhaps shed some light on where the real problems lie and most importantly, how to eradicate them. Contrary to what most people think, the bow hunters of Long Island are for the most part, a group of people who want to enjoy their sport while adhering to all the rules and regulations the State (and perhaps the Incorporated Villages) impose upon them. Long Island bow hunters don’t look to skirt the law nor do they abuse the privilege of hunting in what can be considered some of the most pristine area in this part of the country.The author can unequivocally say this because I am part of this group and personally share the same philosophies. The purpose of this though is not to try to convince you that we are all a bunch of ethical people who you should allow to hunt on your properties. No, each of you can decide whether you have an overpopulation problem and then decide what is the most prudent way to proceed. Instead, we should focus on the strategy (or lack thereof) many Towns and Villages are employing to combat the problem. Many principalities – including Lloyd Harbor - have signed on to the idea that utilizing the services of Department of Agriculture (APHIS unit) to harvest the deer at night with high powered rifles and night vision capability is an effective way to reduce the herd. We bow huntersagree that it is. Coupled with bow hunting, this two-pronged approach could drastically reduce the deer population. Where we have the problem though, is that no one seems to want to determine (in numbers) the scope of the problem and consequently, establish a set number on how many deer need to be culled to leave a deer herd that is of a size compatible to the size of the area they inhabit. The DEC employs wildlife biologists. It is their obligation to first determine the size of the herd in the affected area. This could be done very accurately by conducting aerial thermal imaging so that Town/Village officials could see the size of the deer herd and determine whether an overpopulation problem exists. Next, the biologists – by considering the size (in acreage) of the area to be culled – could provide a concrete number on not only how many deer that particular area could sustain but also, how many does (females) need to be culled to ensure that the herd stays well within manageable levels for that coming year. This is precisely the science behind culling but it is NOT the way it is being done. Unfortunately, in their zeal to get the whitetail overpopulation in check, many officials are having the APHIS sharpshooters return – year after year - to cull at will, with NO set minimum quota in mind! Essentially, this practice will eradicate the herd, not manage it. Going to this extreme is unacceptable. Who’s to blame? The Town/Village officials? Yes, but partly. We think the brunt of the blame solely rests on the DEC because they should know better. They are acquiescing to officials with deep pockets who are telling them the overpopulation is out of control. What does the Lloyd Harbor Mayor use as evidence to show the DEC the severity of the problem? Answer: survey results which basically use a numeric scale: the number #1 denoting a light or mild problem while the #10 being a very severe one. Not very scientific at all. The LI bow hunter community can identify and appreciates the fact that it’s not a good situation when you pay high taxes and then suffer through season after season of landscaping/shrubbery loss or damage; vehicle/deer collisions and countless cases of Lyme’s disease or other tick-borne illnesses. We get it. But wiping out the herd? Is that the answer? I would say it is not…nor is it ethical or legal. I know several hunters who travel to Europe and hunt there once a year. No such problem exists. For example, in Hungary, biologists determine the Red Stag population prior to the season and then set a limit on how many permits will be issued to hunters. Once the quota is met, all hunting ceases. It is truly sad but the DEC is not environmentally minded nor are they scientific in their approach. The agency is reactive, not proactive. The fact that whitetail deer have migrated and are now exponentially increasing in places like Nassau County, Queens and Staten Island are clear examples that the DEC is asleep at the wheel. Please join us in signing this petition to stop the culling in Lloyd Harbor so that a determination could first be made on how severe the overpopulation is and then to set a number to be culled which is based on a scientific and biological assessment. That’s all we ask…