Posted on 08/03/2014 11:20:47 AM PDT by ckilmer
Civil War battlefields may soon light up with gunfire once again if a new plan to "reduce" deer populations gets approved. The US National Parks Service has proposed a $1.8 million plan to hire sharpshooters to hunt and kill white-tailed deer at three Civil War battlefields over the next five years.
Deer populations at the Antietam and Monocacy battlefields, located in Maryland, as well as the Manassas battlefield in Virginia, are far above desired levels. The public is prohibited from hunting on the parkland, and populations have reached as high as 230 deer per square mile at Monocacy. The Parks Service hopes to bring those numbers down to 15 or 20 per square mile, reports the Associated Press.
The proposed plan would call for a maximum of 2,800 deer to be killed over the next five years. Once populations are brought to an acceptable level, the Parks Service hopes to use chemical contraceptives to maintain the herds' numbers. Why all the bloodshed? The Parks Service says that the large deer populations are damaging flora and the agency's efforts to preserve the historical sites. A public review period extends until September 3rd, at which time the agency will decide whether it will go through with the plan.
As previously mentioned, I have a deer family with two almost albino.
I guess a few escaped.
Personally, I think someone can’t count.
230 deer in one square mile would result in Scotland.
I like that idea-like the old village commons where everybody could bring their livestock to graze, except for hunting...
I think deer are kept as livestock in some areas of Scotland, too...
If you allow “common” people to hunt, you give them the incentive to have the means to hunt with, and they learn some woodcraft and survival skills.
That is bad, because it is not sanctioned by the goverment.
Pay “experts” to kill the deer for 1.8 million is “good” because all the arms and skills are in the hands of government experts.
Maryland is very anti-second amendment.
I would do it for the venison and the hides. They are paying for something they could get normal hunters to pay them for the privilege.
LOL
“, TOO”.
Probably the cause and now the king wants help?
Don’t rangers carry weapons.
If you like an idea similar to "...the old village commons where everybody could bring their livestock to graze...", you should research "The Tragedy of the Commons"; it might change your opinion.
“Never having cooked or tasted it before”
That’s just.......sad.
They’ve been doing that for years around here. It’s insane.
Open up www.YouTube.com, type in “Basic steps for beginner shooter: Rifles”, sit and watch the video. Type in “How to shoot a rifle”, a whole list will appear. Watch a few of them and save your $200 for ammunition.
exactly but also to give the deer and stuff a place to be that is not in town, hunting to control their population of course.
There was a program on that subject on H2 awhile back detailing how some took advantage of the commons in the early days of the Colonies, and overgrazed, took more than their share of forage, brought more livestock that they were supposed to, etc and it all turned to crap because they had no pride of personal ownership. I live in the country-I get that-but a deer park that is hunted, licenses sold to support it, and an attendant to check each person’s license is a bit different...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.