Many years back I use to enjoy the fall months when deer hunting was the thing to do whether you enjoyed it or not.

And we always had something special to feed the deer during the rough winter months which did not provide enough food and neighbors were always complaining about the deer eating their bushes and shrubbery.

Folks I know now love to leave apple peelings out on the snow after the head cook baked a couple of apple pies.

But now comes the issue whereby the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the adoption of a regulation to “reduce problems caused by wildlife feeding and establish strict procedures for the use of tick-control devices designated to treat deer.”

The bottom line as far as the DEC is concerned…deer feeding is prohibited.

Many locals, both hunters and non-hunters, do not agree and some have indicated that they will feed the deer anyway because it's a part of maintaining the deer herd and seeing that they do not starve to death during the severe winter months.

There are many who agree that concerned sportsmen and conservationists can help the DEC formulate an effective deer feeding program.

The state legislature is looking at a bill that will allow the feeding of deer and I would be surprised if anything effective will ever come from this body.

So if you can't feed the deer legally some folks are beginning to wonder if the DEC will next come up with a ban on bird feeders and feeding our local winter birds.

As to throwing some apple peels out in the back yard, I would think that would be a tough one to control.