News Release
Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
340 Smith Road
Shirley, New York 11967
For Further Information, Contact: Jody DeMeyere, Visitor Services Manager, 631-286-0485 ext. 2131
Sharon Ware, Deputy Refuge Manager, 631-286-0485 ext. 2111
For Immediate Release
June 26, 2012
National Wildlife Refuge Accepting Applications for Regulated Deer Hunt
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Suffolk County, New York, is accepting applications for the 2012-2013 deer hunt. This limited entry public hunt is offered as part of an ongoing program to manage an overabundance of white-tailed deer and to provide a recreational opportunity for hunters that is consistent with the 1997 Refuge Improvement Act.
Applications are available either at Refuge Headquarters, located at 340 Smith Road in Shirley, or the New York State DEC Office License Counter, Building 40, in Stony Brook. For those with access to the internet, the forms may also be downloaded from the Refuge’s website (http://www.fws.gov/northeast/longislandrefuges/deer_hunt.html).
Since 2005, a controlled deer hunt has been conducted annually at Wertheim NWR. Adaptive management techniques used to evaluate the program have improved the safety, effectiveness, and quality of the hunt over time. To help ensure a successful and safe hunt, all hunters are required to pass a written orientation test which covers important information on regulations, hunt zones, safety, and responsible hunting. This year, four separate archery sessions will be offered in November/December 2012, followed by two separate shotgun sessions in January 2013. For public safety reasons, the Refuge will be closed to all other activities during each session.
New this year, the refuge is implementing a hunter standby list, a change to the antlerless deer requirement and a preferred hunter incentive program. Details can be found in the application package. Only one application per person for each type of hunt will be accepted. A non-refundable application fee of $10, payable by check or money order must accompany the application and orientation test. Application packages must be postmarked or returned to Refuge Headquarters by Friday, August 17, 2012. Hunters will be selected using a random lottery process conducted in late August and will be notified by mail of the results.
Dates for the archery sessions have been set for October 19 - 20, November 2 - 3, November 30 – December 1 and December 14, 2012. The shotgun sessions will be held on January 7 - 8 and January 24 - 25, 2013.
For more information, please contact Refuge Headquarters at 631-286-0485 or visit our website at:
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/longislandrefuges/ |
