HomeMy WebLinkAbout1964-HUNTING-rpt.pdf ANNUAL REPORT OF HUNTING SAFETY COMMITTEE
As a result of the March, 1964 Town Meeting, anew "Hunting Safety
Committee" consisting of one member from the Conservation Commission,
one member from the Recreation Committee and one member from the Board
of Selectmen was organized.
A series of meetings were held during the summer months in order to
evaluate .the problems and complaints of prior years. We' discussed the
matter of hunting with Police Chief JohnVycroft, some of the property
owners and a group of local hunters at *maw of our meetings.
We found that sixty property owners within the Town had given permission
for hunting on their property in past years. The Town Engineering De-
partment located these properties (including the total acreage of each
parcel) on. a Town Map. After careful consideration, the committee
notified twenty-two of these property owners that no hunting permits
would be issued for persons wishing to hunt on their land since the
committee felt for one reason or another that it created a dangerous
situation. The remaining thirty-eight property owners were contacted
and asked to cooperate in limiting the number of permits to be issued.
The Town of Arlington granted permission to plade "No Hunting" signs
on the "Great Meadows" land. Thin property and other parcels owned by
the Town 'of Lexington were posted by the Department of Public Works.
Warning signs were placed on private properties throughout the Town by
the local hunters. These signs were used to warn the lunters in the
fields that they Were in danger of leaving the land area open to hunting,
or that it would not be safe to hunt beyond that point.
Finally, all hunters appearing at the Police Station had to first present
a hunting license and then identify the area in which they wished to hunt. '
if the area was on the approved list, 'the hUnter was issued a permit and
also handed a list of hunting rules and regulations.
During the 1964 hunting season, eightpsseven hunting permits were issued.
The number of calls to the Pollee Department were -reduced to fourteen and,
in one case, two men were arrested and court action followed. On another
occasion, the guns were taken from two hunters by the police. A third
incident found two men from out of town hunting on restricted land and
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they' were warned since other papers were in order. All other oemplaints
were of a minor nature and. no hunters were found in these areas at the
'time of the, complaint.
In conclusion, the committee feels that there was a tremendous improVement
in relations between lElw enforcement officials, the hunters, property owners
who allow hunting and the citizenry' at large and we recommend that the
program be continued.
Otis S. Brown Jr,
Alden L. Ripley
Vincent E. Hayes
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