Pilot Study – 2026-2027 deer season

The EH Town Board approved a limited pilot program to manage the East Hampton deer population, with an initial plan to remove up to 100 deer from a specified area in Springs this deer season using a selected team of volunteer bow hunters.

EHSA is assisting the Town in identifying local bow hunters who may be interested in participating. Contact us at easthamptonsportsmen@gmail.com to be added to the list of people to be briefed in full detail. John Rocchetta of Wind and Waves Management has been selected to manage the program. As soon as his contract is finalized, the parameters and requirements for potential bow hunting participants will be laid out.

Before and after success metrics will be 1) tick count 2) understory vegetation health and 3) vehicle collision count.

For a deep and highly informative dive into current deer and tick control efforts locally, click through to this ‘Express Sessions’ conference on the subject, including Councilman Tom Flight, a tick borne disease doctor and Michael Tessitore of Suffolk County Deer Management.

The meat of the deer part of it starts at the 15:14 mark, and later at about 1:05 there is Q and A, including some that are opposed. Throughout, there is a great deal of authoritative information about ticks as well.

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