PARIS — Several residents spoke up against and in support of hunting in the Cornwall Nature Preserve at a public hearing Monday.

The Board of Selectmen could put an end to decades of hunting on the preserve after an incident last year where a group of hunters intimidated hikers on the trails. Two women described a hunter firing his gun unto the air, apparently in an act of intimidation.

Alice Cornwall deeded the 147-acre preserve to the town in 1982 for the public’s use.

Jeanne Morgan, who retold her story of intimidating hunters, asked for the board to ban hunting in the preserve.

Franca Ainsworth, chair of the Conservation Commission, said she had spoken with hunters who said they would be agreeable with a system that requires registration with the town before hunting on the preserve.

Murad Sayen, a member of the Conservation Commission and a self-described hunter, said he’s witnessed a lot of bad behavior by hunters in the preserve.

He described seeing hunters driving deer, where a group of hunters form a perimeter to drive deer toward other hunters. Deer driving is illegal in Maine.

Sayen said he also saw hunters along a rock wall pointing in the direction of a home at the preserve’s perimeter. He said that although the hunters were a legal distance from the home, he felt that the fact that the home was visible made them irresponsible hunters.

He described stories of deer entrails on the trails and in brooks relayed by other hikers.

Sayen said he’s met honorable hunters in the preserve, but said “they’re becoming the exception.” He also condemned the hunter who fired a gun into the air last year.

“I don’t know what the legal definition for criminal threatening with a firearm is, but from what we’ve heard here, it sounds like it came pretty close,” Sayen said.

Sayen described a “general air of hostility” from hunters during hunting season. He said hunters have even told other hunters to leave the preserve.

Other hunters at the hearing defended continuing hunting on the preserve, although most said a system requiring registration, or setting hunting and non-hunting hours, would be acceptable.

A man said he used to hunt in the preserve when he was a child. He said hunting season is short, and asked that hunters get to use the land for the short time they’re allowed by law each fall.

“This is another case of hunters losing their place to hunt because of people that don’t like hunters,” he said.

One man, who declined to give his name, said the behavior Sayen described was not that of “true hunters.” He said he keeps his distance from where people hike in the preserve and has held friendly conversations with hikers.

“I have no problem with hikers and people walking their dogs,” he said. “They’re going to go one place, and I’m going to go elsewhere.”

“There’s room for both,” he said.

Some residents expressed concern about the encroachment of development around the perimeter of the preserve and what hunting meant for families living there. Others discussed the possibility of limiting the types of ammunition used.

Sayen said the hunters causing the problems would be likely to ignore restrictions. “They’re going to see a sign on the bulletin board that says ‘You’ve got to go to the Town Office’ and they’re going to tear it down.”

The hearing lasted about half an hour. The board will discuss the preserve at a later meeting.

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