On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 21:34:48 GMT, wrote:

Oh... we got the extra problem the hunters are staying home cause of mad deer
disease. so the population is exploding. Ingrid

Bill in far NW Wisconsin

We've got the same problem in NJ...the "Governors 2002 Report on Deer
Management"cites an alarming increase in deer populations all over the
state. The report cited over a half dozen significant problems in
deterring deer population explosions from all corners of society.

For one, the suburban population is exploding, so deer tend to stay
near housings, a place hunters cannot go. Many other landowners
declare "wildlife refuges", so deer can camp out in these areas.
Legal obstacles include a 450 foot radius around every residential
structure forbidden to hunting, which, not including the above,
effectively wipes out two-thirds of NJ's land mass for hunting.
Rifle, muzzleloading AND bow hunting must be 450 ft away from
residential structures...the bow restriction is particularly absurd.

The last but not least factor in deer pop. explosions is the
decreasing number of hunters. They are either getting too old, or
don't feel like fighting PETA every step of the way for the rest of
their lives. Nor do they enjoy having fake-blood splattered on their
homes every time "Bambi" or "Smokey" comes back in their trunk.

Animal rights advocates are not "environmentalists". If they were
truly environmentalists, they would view overpopulation as a direct
threat to native plants and the ecosystem in general. Their view on
wildlife is distorted and threatens our environment.

Dan