Cary Institute's Exclusive Hunting Club

MILLBROOK — For 35 years an elite group of experienced hunters has assisted the scientists at the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies in controlling the deer population on the institute’s 2,000 acres. Before deer-hunting season begins, the invitation-only group attends an orientation lecture about the purpose of the program and the results of the previous year’s hunt, given by Cary wildlife biologist and hunter Ray Winchcombe, manager of the institute’s field research facilities.

The audience at the presentation Friday evening, Nov. 12, consisted of 34 men wearing hunting jackets, baseball caps and camouflage. Attendance at the pre-hunt orientation meeting is a requirement for continued participation in the program, followed by a shotgun proficiency test on Saturday.

Another requirement for remaining in the program is killing at least one doe every three years and hunting at least five hours a day for five days every year or until a doe is shot. Hunters are evaluated for compliance with the rules, their effort, their success and their cooperative attitude. No hand guns are allowed, and no beer. All new hunters must have an experienced sponsor and hunt under their supervision for the first year.

Although hunters in general are getting older, a 14-year-old was accepted last year and killed the first deer of the season under his grandfather’s instruction. Turnover in the program is less than 10 percent. The hunters know each other, the terrain and the strict rules of hunting at Cary.

The purpose of the program is to protect the structure and function of the forested ecosystems on the Cary property and to minimize damage caused by deer to research, education efforts and the landscape.

Winchcombe showed photographic proof of the impact of deer on hardwood tree seedlings in a slide comparing the undergrowth in a fenced area of the forest to the barren tree where deer had grazed.

Winchcombe’s lecture gave the hunters a scientific analysis of last year’s deer hunting results, complete with detailed charts and maps.

Last year 28 deer were killed, including 13 males and 15 females, and a detailed map showed where they were brought down. Historically, 68 percent of the hunters at Cary have successful seasons, but last year it was less than 50 percent. Thirty-six yards is the mean distance of a shot; 74 percent of the deer are shot from tree stands; and only 11 percent are stalked.

The dressed weight of the average doe last year was 95 pounds and 119 for a buck. Winchcombe remarked that he expected that the deer will be heavier this year because of the huge acorn crop. The first week of the season is usually the best, and Saturday and Sunday are the big days.

Winchcombe keeps track of when and where people hunt. Using GIS software, Cary has produced a map showing success rates in various sectors on the property, along with the number of deer shot per 15 hours of hunting time. The maps were distributed so the hunters could plot their own hunting strategy for this year.

Veteran hunters were also recognized on Friday evening with five-, 10-, 15-, 25-, 30- and 35-year service awards. John Dorney, who died this year, was specially recognized for his contribution of killing 69 deer over the 36 years he hunted at Cary with an astonishing 89 percent success rate.