Tifft Nature Preserve Management Plan - Buffalo Museum of Science

Bait and Shoot – This technique involves baiting deer to strategic locations where
an experienced shooter can safely kill the deer. Bait and shoot operations are
appropriate in suburban and urban areas where there is little undeveloped land for
traditional hunting. There are currently active bait and shoot programs in several
communities surrounding Buffalo (T. Spierto, personal communication). This includes
Cheektowaga where deer are being controlled this way in Stiglmeier Park adjacent to
Dr. Victor Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, which is also experiencing negative
effects from high deer densities (NYS DEC 2006b). Due to regulations in the City of
Buffalo (Charter and Code of the City of Buffalo, Chapter 180, Article I, § 180-1), only
law enforcement, peace officers, or military personnel are permitted to discharge
firearms in the city and would need to perform the shooting of deer on the preserve. For
convenience and effectiveness, firearms are used instead of longbows, but an archery
based bait and shoot program is a possibility for the preserve. Donation of the venison
and hides to charitable organizations from bait and shoot programs is a wise use of the
animals which need to be recovered anyway and can help with public acceptance of the
program. Due to extensive dumping and the removal of chemical contaminants in the
past, venison should be tested for health risks prior to consumption.
Traditional Hunting – This is standard hunting by licensed sportsmen and women
using legal firearms or longbows and hunting seasons which are set by NYS
Environmental Conservation Law or NYS DEC Regulations. The city of Buffalo is within
Deer Management Zone 9c which is “closed” to hunting. The urban location, public use
of the preserve, and safety concerns preclude the possibility of a traditional hunt on the
preserve.
Controlled Hunt – This method uses traditional hunting techniques, but in a highly
regulated fashion to account for local constraints and to achieve specific population
goals. Controlled hunts can be tailored to meet a variety of local conditions and can
include several restrictions such as marksmanship requirements, restrictions on who
may hunt, a lottery system for permits, hunting methods (e.g. firearms, archery, etc.),
hunting times and locations, and the sex, age and number of deer to be taken. The
tight level of control this method allows makes it a viable option for reducing deer
populations at an urban nature preserve.
Strategy for Deer Management at Tifft Nature Preserve
Although several techniques for deer population control exist, there are few
viable options for the preserve due to local constraints or the feasibility of achieving a
substantial reduction in the deer population. Therefore, no active population control
techniques are recommended at this time. However, this does not mean the preserve
should not move forward on deer management. Several steps could be initiated so that
effective deer population control can be achieved in the future.
1. Research – Collect data to estimate deer densities on the preserve through the
use of deer track and pellet surveys, wildlife cameras, and visual counts along
established transects. A mark-recapture study could also be conducted to
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