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After months of scurrying to get a deer management program in place before bow hunting season begins on October 13th, Village of Lansing officials have canceled a planned Village-sanctioned hunt, at least for now.  The plan was to hold a controlled hunt on the Murray Estates property, also known as Sundown Farm, the largest undeveloped property in the Village.  But negotiations for this year broke down when the property owner expressed fears that there was insufficient time before bow hunting season begins  to iron out remaining problems.  "It's canceled this year, postponed until next year," says Village Trustee John O'Neill.  "The owner of Murray Estates said there was not enough time before hunting season to iron out the security issues and the liability issues."

The Village, and O'Neill in particular, has been scurrying for months to put a deer management program in place before bow hunting season begins.  Last month it appeared that the pieces were falling into place, including coordinating with the New York Department of Environmental Concervation (DEC)'s Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), making arrangements with the Murray Estates owner, getting proper insurance, and putting regulations and procedures together that would insure safety for residents and security.

O'Neill says that almost all of that was in place.  He had an agreement with the Lansing Bowhunters to provide skilled bowhunters, and with a charitable organization that oversees the butchering of the deer and distribution of the venison to those in need.  Village Clerk/Treasurer says she has the additional hunting tags from the DEC.  The owner of Murray estates had agreed on a procedure to certify hunters to hunt on his property, and O'Neill was working with the Village's insurance agent.  "We were moving to solutions," O'Neill says.  "But it's his call."

With a program in place, the only thing preventing hunters participating is State and Village law that defines how far from a residence you can hunt and what kinds of weapons may be used, and permission from landowners.  That last is the sticking point, because the Village is so widely and densely developed.  Other than Murray Estates there are few, if any, properties that qualify.  Trustee Lynn Leopold and her husband are eager to permit hunters on their land, which has been virtually decimated by deer.  But Leopold told the board that there is only one small spot on the property that meets all the requirements.  Hunting must take place within 500 feet of a home, farm building, school, playground, or an occupied factory, church, or any occupied structure unless you have permission from the owner or lessee.

Because deer travel, permission is a big issue in the Village.  With such close development if a deer runs into a neighbor's yard before collapsing, Village officials are unclear as to how the animal could legally be dispatched.

Mayor Don Hartill says that there is an average of 30 deer/auto collisions in the Village per year.  The herd is so large that food is scarce, especially in Winter.  This means that woodland, gardens -- any place in the Village with any edible plants or trees -- has been decimated, causing thousands of dollars in damage on private and Village property.

Trustees struggled over the wording of a Village law that would permit bow hunting, but forbid crossbows.  There was confusion about the exact nature of modern hunting bows that use pulleys.  But if hunters can get permission to hunt on private property the DMAP tags are available for them to participate in the Village program.  The tags are provided in addition to regular hunting tags, and only permit hunters to kill deer without antlers or having antlers measuring less than three inches in length.

Without a place to hunt, the program is moot.  O'Neill remains optimistic that there is plenty of time to iron out the remaining issues before next year's hunting season.  "We have a deer management program," he says.  "However on that property he is not going to allow any hunting as of this date.  The official word is no hunting on that property.  It's canceled this year, postponed until next year."

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