Permission to cross post everywhere.

Please send letters and make phone calls to the officials who can stop this blatant example of a canned hunt to save Handsome Hank and the other deer.



There were recent successful tours of the Seneca Army Depot (Seneca County, NY) to observe the white deer and other wildlife, as well as the habitat and the history. Over 2000 people participated over 3 weekends.

I took the tour on Saturday and it was clear that areas were being prepared for hunting and that hunting stands were being placed for the annual hunt that is organized to "manage" the deer population, which are all enclosed behind fences. On the way back to the start of the tours, we passed a handsome white buck posing for pictures along the fence. He had no fear of cars or people.

For pictures and more information:

http://www.senecawhitedeer.org/

There is a general impression that the hunting is being "professionally" managed, but the person actually in charge is one of the last 6-8 Army employees with no wildlife management expertise. I just received the following note from one of the organizers:

After yesterday's tours at the Seneca Depot, our last day of very successful tours, and seeing the new tree stand right in the middle of Handsome Hank's habitat at the Depot, it is very clear that the deer we have named Handsome Hank is being targeted to be killed in this year's hunt, which starts in about three weeks at the Depot.

This is a tragic situation; Hank is a 'domesticated' wild deer who will come up to the fence if you provide an apple. It would be like shooting your family dog. No ethical hunter would ever do this but....some of these 'hunters' only want a white deer trophy and don't care about that aspect. We do.

I need your help in trying to dissuade the Army Corps of Engineers from targeting Hank this fall. Hank is the most photographed white deer in America and is probably 3.5 years old. I think the new stand has been built in Hank's territory as we have made Hank a symbol of what we are trying to achieve at the Depot. We have a crown jewel of a natural resource, a world class tourism attraction that can benefit not only the economy of Seneca County but would also educate everyone about the value of wildlife and the need for habitat and open space.

Handsome Hank symbolizes what the Seneca Depot can become and what it could mean to educate the public about the value of wildlife and

habitat. Please make an effort to save Hank.

Local efforts to stop the hunting in the Depot and/or to acquire the land for a wildlife watching/cultural history park have not been successful. I had hoped that by now the herd would have professional managers and more humane methods, but that is not the case.

If we can't stop the hunting, please at least save Hank.

Here are the individuals with email addresses who have the authority to stop this (The Seneca County IDA owns the property, the EDC manages and "authorizes" the hunt; the Board of Supervisors oversees the IDA):

Robert Aronson, Executive Director

Seneca County Industrial Development Agency

One Di Pronio Drive

Waterloo, New York 13165-1681

Telephone: 315.539.1725

Fax: 315.539.4340

Email: raronson@co.seneca.ny.us

http://www.SenecaCountyIDA.org

Thomas Kime, Chair

Seneca County Industrial Development Agency

One Di Pronio Drive

Waterloo, New York 13165-1681

Lee Patchen, Chair

Seneca County Economic Development Corporation

One Di Pronio Drive

Waterloo, New York 13165-1681

Board of Supervisors

Seneca County Office Building,

1 DiPronio Drive,

Waterloo, NY 13165

Phone: (315) 539-1700,

supervisors@co.seneca.ny.us

Suzanne Sinclair

County Manager

Seneca County Office Building,

1 DiPronio Drive,

Waterloo, NY 13165

Phone: (315) 539-1700

Senator Michael F. Nozzolio

Senatorial District 54th, R-I-C

119 Fall Street

Seneca Falls, NY 13148

Internet E-Mail: nozzolio@senate.state.ny.us

Assemblyman Brian Kolb

607 West Washington St.

Suite 2

Geneva, NY 14456

315-781-2030

kolbb@ assembly.state.ny.us

David Kaiser, Town Supervisor

Town of Romulus

1435 Prospect Street

P.O. Box 177

Willard, New York 14588

Phone: 607-869-9326

E-Mail: romulus@rochester.rr.com

Bob Hayssen, Town Supervisor

Town of Varick

4782 Rt. 96

Romulus, NY 14541

rhayssen@rochester.rr.com

Commissioner Pete Grannis

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Executive Offices:

625 Broadway,

Albany, NY 12207

pgrannis@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Paul D'Amato, Regional Director

Region 8 Headquarters

6274 E. Avon-Lima Rd.,

Avon, NY 14414

585-226-2466

pdamato@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Robin J. Yager, Director

Network Partners for Animals*

* We do not sanction any groups' ethics or actions and offer the Network Partners Group as a networking resource tool.

http://www.partnershelpinganimalscoalition-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (remove spacing)

Spring Farm CARES

3364 Route 12

Clinton, NY 13323

315-790-1404

http://www.springfarmcares.org (no spaces)

Life is as dear to the mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not to die, so

do other creatures. ~ His Holiness The Dalai Lama