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A Guide to Equitable use of Public Wild Lands for Recreation and Habitat Conservation

by The Brewster Sportsman's Club, Brewster

Hunting in the Punkhorn Parklands Compromise Proposal

There is a proposed plan for a bow and arrow only hunt during a three-week period in December, commencing on the first Monday and ending on the third Saturday. In accordance with Massachusetts hunting laws, hunters must be duly licensed and have completed a 12-16 hour long Basic Hunter Education Safety Course.

The 865 acre, Punkhorn Parklands, has been closed to hunting for over 30 years due to public misconceptions about hunting and concerns about public safety. Research shows that regulated hunting, particularly archery hunting, is a safe activity for all outdoor recreators, hunting and non-hunting alike. In Massachusetts, there are no recorded injuries to non-hunters due to archery hunting. Archery deer hunters typically hunt from elevated tree stands where visibility is enhanced and shooting distance is extremely limited. Archery deer hunters most often hunt independently, meaning they do not pursue deer in large parties and do not participate in “deer drives”.

The MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife conducted surveys in the Punkhorn Parklands in 2020 and found deer densities to be at least double the management goal of 12-18 deer per square mile. Deer overabundance results in ecological damage that negatively impacts many other species including native plants, pollinators, threatened and endangered species, and even common and abundant species. Due to high reproductive rates and high fawn survival, deer abundance will continue to rise if a hunting plan is not implemented.

Hunting in Brewster is already extremely limited. The only public properties open in town for hunting are the Water Department land on Freemans Way and Mother’s Bog. These areas are only open for archery and black powder hunting. Hunters and non-hunters have safely recreated on these properties concurrently for years. This same peaceful coexistence can extend to the Punkhorn Parklands property, particularly for a short 18-day period. The proposal suggests that the southern portion of Punkhorn Parklands, where there are no marked hiking trails, be open to limited archery hunting.

The Town of Brewster has many places for non-hunters to enjoy the outdoors. With the addition of the Sea Camps land and the Dog Park, this gives Brewster residents two additional properties to utilize. Responsible and respectful hunters should be permitted to use town properties just as other recreators are allowed to.

VOTE NO ON ARTICLE 17 – FULL BAN
VOTE YES ON ARTICLE 18 – 3 WEEKS ARCHERY

To learn more about the back story of the vote, visit

https://brewstersportsmansclub.org/stophuntingban/

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