Minutes of March 14,
2014
Present: Steuben
County Federation (James Draper), Ontario County Federation (Frank Shutter,
Kevin long, William Shaw, Orleans County Federation (Neil Newton, Mike Elam),
Genesee County Federation (Glen Adams), Seneca County Federation (John
Andrews), Wayne County Federation (Keith Youngs). Aaron Youngs excused.
Guest Dennis Money of Seneca White Deer.
Meeting called to Order at Shortsville Rod and Gun Club by
President Mike Elam.
Dennis Money
made a presentation about the Seneca White deer, Largest herd of white, White
Tail Deer. Currently the most employees are at the Prison on the north end of
this property. The Owners of the
property are the IDA, Industrial development Association of Seneca County. DEC has said no to owning this property due
to the perceived future maintenance costs.
Potential for open space, tourism ect.
Seneca White Deer Inc has had sold out tours any time they were able to
host them. Robert J. Aronson is the current
director of the board. The IDA wants
more tourism, Dennis Money states that the history of the Depot and the
wildlife are equal parts of the tours that were given by Seneca White
Deer. In the 11 weekend tours 6300
people attended to a tune of $125,000 to the coffers of Seneca White Deer Inc. Dennis Money has asked us to help to generate
political support make a 7,000 acre portion of the Depot as open space in
region 8. Get support to utilize the
Environmental protection fund to secure the area. This expenditure would generate money and jobs
as demonstrated from the tours. It was
stated that we should send letters to Nozolio and Kolb. This area is a wildlife treasure access for
people with all abilities to get outdoors and learn about nature and
history. WWW.Senecawhitedeer.org is their WEB
site. Hunting will be needed to cull
the heard, a discussion has been held about holding a lottery to generate
operation funds for fence maintenance, if this comes to fruition. Brian Kolb has been a supporter of late. Mike Nozolio needs to be persuaded. There is also resistance from the supervisor
of Romulus and the Town of Tyre would need to re-zone the area.
There are
five colonial soldiers from the Sullivan campaign buried in the cemetery within
the 7000 acres. The time is now to act,
Bill Nojay is onboard. The map of the
area is on their WEB site. The Nature
Conservancy is not interested as their new mission ecosystems. Region politics are definitely in play on
this issue. Seneca White Deer has
estimated within their business plan that they could see 21,000 visitors per
year and generate revenue of $1.1 million dollars. It is estimated that there are 185 White deer
in the herd with 800 deer overall on the property. Coyotes’ are a problem!
Old
business:
We have been
having problems holding our meetings at the Region 8 Headquarters. When Mike Elam requests confirmation,
answerers have been delayed or last minute.
We have had several times in the recent past where we went to the
Headquarter only to find no one there.
We then held the meeting outside.
The last time was our August meeting.
Our February meeting was canceled at the last minute and thanks to the
Shortsville Rod and Gun Club we were able to reschedule it for March 14th.
NYS DEC has
scheduled a meeting with Commissioner Martens and sent out invitations to
various people representing groups within region 8, Mike Elam and Glen Adams
have been invited. One the list of
things we will bring up are Hemlock Candice Lake utilization and management
plan, The work needed at the Caledonia Hatchery, the celebration of 150 years
and the badly needed restoration needed at the hatchery.
E-licensing and the difficulty of area agents
to access the system. The problems
hunter education instructors are having with the new online registration and
results record keeping.
April 1
SCOPE is hosting another rally in Albany
FWMB- Fisher study is ongoing with possible
harvesting of fisher out about two
years.
Emerald Ash
Bore is a big problem in the area. Less
than 5% of forest infected at this time.
DEC projects
scheduled for the area are Black Creek at the Genesee River, Braddock’s Bay
area, Sandy Creek and High Tor. These
will be in house projects of the DEC.
Mute Swans are a problem being addressed as invasive species.
Lamprey ell
are an issue in Catherine’s Creek, Keuka and Cayuga Lakes.
State of the
Finger lakes meetings are scheduled in region 8 with one scheduled for May 19th
at the Christian Academy 7245 College St, Lima NY 7:00 PM
At the FWMB
meeting one of the representatives brought up the request for going back to a
Monday Big Game start to help businesses.
The change to Saturday starts helped youth and hunters but has hurt
retailers and eateries.
Naples creek
trout shocking to take place March 20th at 9:00 AM.
6 New ECO
coming into region, we expect two retirements.
William
Gibson Legislative VP is doing a very good job for the NYSCC and chaired a very
informative meeting at Herkimer.
The Spring
Committees meeting is for Saturday April 16th at Herkimer Community
College.
Mergansers
are having a problem with the long cold winter because they decided not to fly
further south. Many have died of
starvation.
There will
probably be more fish kills this year due to more ice and longer periods of the
same.
Livingston
County Federation is taking the lead on the August 9th Celebration
at the Caledonia Fish Hatchery.
We hosted a
Region 7, 8 and 9 meeting to hash out issues that face western NY on January 12th. Most issues are the same as those stated
above.
WDMA hosted
a seminar at RIT recently.
Naples Creek
Wing Dams have deteriorated, they used to help the habitat creating places fish
could hole up as well as oxygenating the stream. We want to talk to the DEC to see if wing
walls can be re-established in creeks that had them.
David Kline
of the Nature Conservancy gave a presentation at the Region 7, 8 and 9 , on the Lake Ontario 2014 plan and how it
could help bring back diversity of species and habitat. We feel that the FLCC should support the Lake
Ontario 2014 plan. NYSCC has agreed to
support this plan and have signed on.
Mike Elam read the letter of support for the Lake Ontario 2014 plan he
drafted.
·
John
Andrews made a motion to send the letter of support for the Lake Ontario Plan
to any and all. It was second by Frank
Shutter and motion approved.
County news:
Genesee County has been working on
getting rifle approved for big game in the county as well as actively
supporting the repeal of the SAFE ACT via our county chapter of SCOPE.
Ontario County sent two campers to DEC
conservation camp, has a gun raffle in the fall, This was the first year center
fire rifle was used for Big Game hunting and it came off without a hitch. Crossman arms was very generous to Ontario
county youth hunt, mentor John Starfield is heading it up.
Orleans County April 12th
Annual meeting and Banquet. April 12th, shot heard around the world.
The Holley
Squirrel Slam was held again this year.
There was a very small turnout of anti hunters for the event.
Seneca County April 17th annual Banquet,
Seneca county had sent children to conservation camp also. Working with Seneca White Deer.
Steuben County has sent 6 children to
DEC conservation camp. Will be planting
25 to 50 American Chestnut Trees. A new
chapter of SCOPE had formed in Steuben County. Meeting the first Thursday of
month at Bath Rod and Gun Club.
Wayne County Banquet is April 12th at Captain
Jacks in Sodus Point cocktails at 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM Dinner. Will benefit sending children to Conservation
camp. Wayne County chapter of SCOPE at
the Palmyra VFW on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Wayne County experienced the Lady
pediatrician that was stealing the Repeal SAFE Act Signs she was caught and
charged with a misdemeanor. Wayne County
will be hosting a Chili cook off in three weeks.
·
Kevin
Long made a motion to support Dennis Money and the Seneca White Deer
Association and second by James Draper. Motion carried.
·
Frank
Shutter made a motion to send letters of support of the Seneca White Deer
Association and second by John Andrews. Motion carried.
·
Frank
Shutter made a motion for the Finger Lakes Conservation Council to comment on
the Mute Swan management plan and John Andres Second. Motion Carried.
·
Neil
Newton made a motion for the FLCC to pay for the pizza for tonight’s meeting
and all future meetings and second by Kevin Long. Motion carried.
·
Neil
Newton made a motion for us to put an business card advertisement in the NUSCC
Grass Roots news for every month of a year and was second by John Andrews.
Motion carried.
Nominations for officers:
President: Mike Elam
Vice President: Keith Youngs
Treasurer: Dennis Race
Secretary: Glen Adams
·
Frank
Stutter made a motion to accept the nominations as our officers and second by
John Andrews. Motion carried.
License plates can
be purchased through the DMV if you have a life time license that denote you
are a life time hunter.
Next meeting May 2nd,
Mike Elam will try to get it back to the DEC Region 8 Headquarters.
John
Andrews made a motion to adjourn the meeting and was second by Neil
Newton. Motion carried.
