Stop Bow-Hunting Deer in Westchester and Rockland County Parks

From Friends of Animals (FOA)

Contact Westchester and Rockland County officials and demand an end to the plan to turn peaceful parklands into places where arrows fly and deer die.

CONTACT

Westchester County Executive Andrew J. Spano
148 Martine Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
phone (914) 995-2900
fax (914) 995-2939
email

Joseph A. Stout, Commissioner
Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Conservation
25 Moore Avenue
Mt. Kisco, New York 10549
phone (914) 864-7000
fax (914) 864-7053
email

Gerold M. Bierker
Rockland County Legislature
11 New Hempstead Road
New City, NY 10956
phone (845) 638-5753
email

INFORMATION

Westchester County plans to turn 850 acres in Lasden Park and Muscoot Farm Park into deer-killing fields for bow hunters starting November 7th A "task force" with a pro-hunting bent concluded that there was an "overpopulation" of deer eating as deer eat in the forest. Its members made the unprecedented decision to open up parklands where hunting was formerly prohibited.

Hunting changes the way deer naturally evolve and can cause deer populations to increase. Nature itself ensures that the deer population is limited by available food, territory, and winter weather conditions, which restrict both food and range. The reproductive rate and the survival rate of deer will then decrease, creating a natural balance. Deer simply need us to let them be, and that's the message that needs to be communicated to your legislators.

Hunting is also known to increase the instances of accidents, with people driving into scattering deer. A 2002 study by Friends of Animals indicated that hunting exacerbates roadway deaths of deer. About half of all these accidents happen during the three months of hunting season: October, November and December.

Thank you for everything you do for animals!