There are deer in our woods still having triplets. These new deer were relatively young, small and still carried their camo spotted coats as of last week. There are several issues indicated in this observation.

This particular area hosts at least 120 deer within about two square miles. Triplets this late is not a good omen. This is a good indicator the herd is not in a mode that will fit the habitat if we have a rough winter. A healthy ratio of bucks to does should be about one-to-one or at worse two-to-one. The ratio in most local areas is more like eight-to-one. Late-born fawns are proof all does are not bred in their first heat cycle in the fall. Each month past that optimum breeding date results in deer born later in the spring or even summer.

These late-born fawns are not able to put on adequate growth before the winter low-value browse period. Any serious weather stress causes mortal problems or a least very weak deer for years afterwards. Just like in humans, poor early nutrition usually results in lifelong problems.

Full-grown deer consume about 3000 pounds of food each year. However their energy needs are greater trying to stay warm in winter. Therefore they browse right into yards looking for easy pickings on ornamental shrubs. They are attractive animals but cause millions in damage to the environment. Most winter deer habitat is in low wetland or heavily wooded areas along streams, that shelters them from cold wind.

Of course their feces ends up in the watershed after the spring melt and rain. DNA testing in Owasco Lake shows animal coliforms. Too many deer are definitely not good for the watershed.

In addition, these late-born animals are more susceptible to disease and predation. This in turn overbalances the negative pressures on every member of the deer herd. Diseases like CWD are thought to be transmitted by deer nosing each other or interbreeding. Weak deer are more apt to contract any heath threat.

The more opportunity we give predators like coyotes, the more their population also builds. Coyotes are about as adaptable an animal as exists today. They are highly evolved big dogs that tend to be ruthless. They do not just target the old and weak. Coyotes do kill at will and not just to eat. Pack animals are capable of hamstringing a healthy deer, and regularly do so for no apparent reason.

Also, there is strong evidence that coyotes are becoming too used to people and not conditioned to be afraid. The current thinking is it is just a matter of time until a negative confrontation in someone's backyard. A winterkill of deer would push coyotes to seek other food sources.

That brings us to the current state of deer management. This falls under the New York DEC and there are many different points of view in regards to their decisions. From how you count deer population, to how you mange it, is under constant question from everyone from hunters to anti-hunters.

The reality is hunters have invested more than anyone else in time and money promoting deer health. They are also more knowledgeable and experienced about wildlife than even many DEC people. Regardless, in rural areas where deer management is based, hunters and landowners need to be involved.

Professional wildlife managers, politicians and all of these groups are guilty of not doing an effective job in New York with deer management. The proof is too many deer in our woods, yards, as road kill, and CWD in New York. The current crisis has spurned people to change current policy so we have healthy deer for the future. Get involved if you can, have fun and be careful out there.

Kozlowski, a local sportsman who is the president of the Owasco

Watershed Lake Association, is

The Citizen's outdoors columnist.

He can be reached at

alkoz@baldcom.net