Public must find alternatives to TMR hunting

By DAVID HULSE

NARROWSBURG, NY — Big game hunters are now learning of the decision of the Boy Scouts of America Councils of Greater New York to end their cooperative hunting agreement with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) at the Ten Mile River (TMR) reservation.

Charlie Rogers, BSA Director of Camping and Program for the Greater New York Councils said the scouts “had no choice. For many years, the state regulated and controlled the hunting on our property which we were only to happy to open up to the public.”

“Because of budgetary cutbacks, the state was no longer able to run the program. We cannot allow uncontrolled access to our property, do not have the manpower or financial resources to develop a controlled program and we refuse to place our camp rangers in a position where they could be forced to confront hunters with loaded weapons.”

Rodgers confirmed that the scouts have formed cooperative agreements with several hunt clubs, who will control access on various parts of the property. TMR has again reserved a section of the property for the exclusive use of local residents, he said.

Rodgers was sorry about the change, but said, “I believe the current arrangement is the best alternative, given the circumstances, to provide access to the greatest number of hunters and remain a good neighbor while protecting the interests of our scouts.”

Pennsylvania hunter, Joseph P.Paulowskey had hunted TMR for more than 20 years and was disappointed to learn of its loss to the public.

“Every year, more and more hunting land is lost to the general public for various reasons. I have a young son who started hunting at the camp two years ago, and was looking forward to the 2002 season. [TMR] is a beautiful property.”

Bill Rudge, Natural Resources Supervisor for DEC Region 3, did not comment on Rodgers’ remarks, but confirmed that the boy scouts have chosen to end their cooperative agreement with DEC.

The lands between the Delaware River and Route 97 in the Town of Tusten will remain open to residents of Tusten via a permit from the scouts, he said.

Rudge said there are several public alternatives for sportsman in Sullivan County.

DEC manages over 35,000 acres of land that is open to hunting in the county, including the following:

• Forest Preserve (Catskill Park),Willowemoc Wild Forest and Sundown Wild Forest in Neversink and Rockland, 16,540 acres
• Forest Preserve (Detached Parcels), Mamakating, 300 acres
• Crystal Lake Wild Forest in Fremont, 497 acres
• Wolf Brook in Thompson, 585 acres
• Hickok Brook in Highland, 1037 acres
• Painter Hill in Mamakating, 107 acres
• Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest in Mamakating, 1083 acres
• Bashakill Wildlife Management Area in Mamakating, 2175 acres
• Neversink River Unique Area in Forestburgh, 6570 acres
• Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area in Forestburgh, Lumberland, Highland, 6313 acres

On a regional level, the DEC manages over 220,000 acres of land in Region 3: Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties.