The Regional Director of the NYS Parks Department has been quoted in the Syracuse daily Post-Standard as saying that he thinks it would be a good recreational activity to allow bow-hunting of deer in Green Lakes State Park (in the town of Manlius, New York). There have been many letters pro and con in the newspaper. The Director should be hearing from people who don't want hunting at the park. I hope that you will contact him if you live in NYS or if you ever use the park even if you live out of state. Some of the thoughts you might want to express is that it is unfair for the park (or at least sections of it) to be closed two times a year (his current proposal) to allow hunting. This limits the use of the park for people who want to enjoy non-lethal fun. Another factor is that the deer in the park are tame. Two of my friends tell me they often talk and sing to deer; these animals do not run away from them because they have no reason to think they will be harmed. How unsportsmanlike, to say the least, it would be to maim or kill these trusting animals. Here's the contact info:

Edward Heinrich, Regional Director
NYS Parks Department
6105 E. Seneca Turnpike
Jamesville, NY 13078
(315) 492-1756

Thank you. Linda A. DeStefano, President, PAR