Posted on 07/28/2007 5:04:07 PM PDT by Sybeck1
Whispers started with the first few gunshots.
Neighborhood rumors had it that a cotton farmer who leases land from the Chickasaw Basin Authority near the Wolf River was shooting deer on the property.
So when residents discovered nearly 40 of the animals had been killed and left to rot in the surrounding woods, they reacted with horror.
"I don't like to see (deer) slaughtered, and that's what happened down there in these cotton fields," said Brenda Flanagan, a nearby resident. "To me it's inhumane. ... What's gone is gone, and I would hate to see that ever happen again."
Angry neighbors also cited safety concerns.
"Our first concern was the brutality of killing those animals," said Arthur Wolff, who owns property on Bethany Road, a shady street that dead ends into the sprawling cotton farm. "Then there was the safety issue of shooting deer so close to people's homes."
Wolff, along with other angry residents, called officials from the Chickasaw Basin Authority (CBA), a state agency dealing with flood-control and drainage in a three-county area. The CBA owns a 600-acre patch of land near Collierville's annexation reserve in unincorporated Shelby County.
It turns out the farmer had been given permission by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to kill deer that were destroying his crops.
But as a result of the community's response, CBA's chairman, Charles Perkins, said they became aware of the safety issues and pulled the permit until further notice.
"We just thought it was a health concern and a safety concern because of the populated area being so close in proximity," Perkins said. "We put a stop to it."
Farmer David Ciarloni, who leases the 200 acres, is not happy about the decision, but he's going to wait to see what can be negotiated with the CBA.
He said the deer population has escalated in recent years, wreaking havoc on his cotton crop.
"It's not going to stop, and it will make this farm impossible to farm in the future," he said.
Although Ciarloni won't know the extent of damage until harvest time, he's estimated 30 percent to 50 percent crop damage. "It's an astronomical increase from last year."
Ciarloni grew frustrated with the deer problem a few months ago and contacted his landlord, the CBA, for a permit to kill the deer.
Ted Fox, the county's public works director who doubles as the CBA's executive director, said he sent a county employee out to examine the damage.
The employee corroborated Ciarloni's story -- that deer had eaten away at about 30 percent of the crop. Fox contacted the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which issues hunting permits.
Gary Cook, TWRA's regional manager in West Tennessee, said state legislation allows farmers to receive hunting permits if they can prove significant crop loss. Called a "depredation permit," this license allows farmers to kill wildlife such as birds or deer that are causing damage to public or private property.
"It happens all over Tennessee on a regular basis," Cook said. "This is not something rare or unusual."
Each year, TWRA issues anywhere from about three to 10 permits to landowners in Shelby County. Last year, it issued 11.
A permit was issued to the CBA after TWRA officers sent to Ciarloni's farm noted significant crop loss and 81 deer.
Ronnie Shannon of TWRA said that contrary to popular belief, deer have been known to eat newer strains of cotton, called "Roundup Ready" cotton that has a salty taste. And because there's limited hunting in the county, the deer population has grown in recent years.
TWRA officials relayed this information to the CBA board, which voted unanimously to thin the herd during a two-week period.
Perkins, CBA's chairman, said the TWRA warden showed up to the meeting in uniform and with his rifle, leading him to assume that the officer -- not Ciarloni -- would be handling the problem.
"We thought the TWRA was going to handle the eradication," Perkins said. "We thought they were going to be onsite to supervise or do it themselves."
He was surprised to discover Ciarloni had taken a shotgun and killed the animals himself.
Perkins also discovered their bodies had been dragged off the cotton fields and into nearby wooded areas to rot.
"That concerned us because of the scavengers, the possibility of the coyotes moving into that area, the buzzards and the smell," Perkins said. "It was a general health concern."
Fox called Ciarloni and put a hold on the permit. The CBA held a meeting Tuesday to discuss the issue.
During that session, the CBA heard testimony from Wolff and other concerned residents, who complained of safety and health risks for the surrounding residents.
Perkins said the license will be pulled until further notice, but something will have to be done eventually to deal with the deer population.
And of the system chosen to hunt the deer, he said residents probably won't be happy about it.
"I personally am leaning toward a limited hunting situation although I suspect neighbors won't like that," he said. "This is a serious problem in Shelby County."
-- Alex Doniach: 529-5231
Copyright 2007, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.
Ok, Pea brain, read this real slow, I grew up a 250 acre farm, I currently live on a farm. I know about deer and farming. And I have been a hunter all my life. I also know that the man who shot the deer is a fool.
I have never known deer to eat cotton, and posted a link to a game warden who said the same thing. Next the man shot forty deer. Take forty city slickers you sell them a three day permit for one deer each. Now look what the going rate is for a three day hunt. The man left several thousand dollars to rot in the field when all he had to do was sell permits at the end of the season to recuperate what ever fictitious loss he had. He probably would have made money.
I think its Wisconsin that is facing Chronic Wasting Disease and is on the verge of giving the ok to kill the entire herd then attempt to restock.
Northern Michigan is facing Bovine Tuberculosis and all deer killed in zone 1 are required to be inspected by the DNR after tagging.......
Fortunately there are no diseases affecting the deer in the lower half of the lower peninsula and the only off season predator are the 4 wheel kind...............
When is deer season in your neck of the woods?
Around here, the only way you can shoot deer this time of year is with a nuisance tag. I don’t think you could get away with selling them.
I’m glad you never had problems with deer but around here they are a big problem. My brother thought the deer wouldn’t be a problem when he planted a small orchard a few years ago. The trees that weren’t eaten were pulled out of the ground. It was a complete loss.
You can call me names too, but I have seen the damage deer can do.
I have no idea how many deer are around my farm but last summer during the drought, The deer were draining two 100 gallon stock tanks every night. We had trouble keeping our own animals watered.
these are the same lily livered soft as putty crackers that let the goblins take over Memphis
but ..ooooo...the brutality of killing some cotton snarking dear
oh gawd the humanity....(sobbing hysterically)
where’s Mike Vick when ya need him?
Venison is not worth eating unless it is turned into jerky. Pretty expensive
If you're talking to me, I do know. You talking about boneless cuts or regular cuts? Or would you rather the entire deer be processed for sausage, its cheaper?
You don’t use round-up until your ready to strip your cotton and it’s not time yet.
I’m wondering about whatever it makes the cotton, or any crop, resistant to Roundup. This stuff is genetically engineered to survive Roundup. What’s in it that does that? It apparently changes the crop, if it has a saltier taste.
My apologies. I’m a rancher, not a farmer, only time i use round up is to kill every thing. I had to read up on the Round-Up ready cotton, and I’m not sure what your worries are. Genetically modifying doesnt mean it would hazardous to wildlife. What i do find strange about this whole story, is the deer eating the cotton. I’ve got 3 sections, with my neighbors cotton fields bordering my west fence line, and i’ve never in 25 years seen deer eating cotton.
I can see the concern about them eating something that has been sprayed. I wouldn’t know if deer like cotton. It’s not a crop we grow around here. I do know they like corn, apples, and pumpkins.
I’ve heard some concern about genetically modified crops but it makes more sense that the concern is because there’s likely to be residue from the Roundup on or near them than the changes in the plants themselves.
Wood chipper...
Carcasses are what's left after the deer meat is in the cooler.
Are you sure you’re not making that up?
Sounds like a good day at the range!
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