Summer hunts: Are they needed?

[Woody Williams]

Summer hunts: Are they needed?

PHIL POTTER COLUMN

Whether you love or hate deer, remember one thing: These critters are the cash cows that fund states' conservation coffers. The fight between those who love deer and those who want them exterminated has grown to a point that summer depredation shooting has become the fodder for "deer wars" now being fought.

Who's right? Is it farmers and insurance companies, or hunters and wildlife watchers? Because the root of depredation shooting hinges more on money than population control, consider what a deer is worth in terms of dollars to the total economy.

To state conservation agencies, the total revenue generated from bow, firearms and muzzleloader seasons represents a significant part of their budgets. Deer licenses usually produce more money than all other types excluding fishing licenses.

During regular hunting seasons, deer incidentally fund endeavors such as motels, restaurants, gun sales, and land leases and sales. In terms of cash to the overall economy, deer aren't giant vermin.

But many consider them to be varmints and appeal for their demise. Groups have contrived to get normal hunting rules changed to promulgate summer shooting. The fact that Indiana forbids the use of high-powered rifles during regular deer seasons but allows their use for depredation begs questioning.

Does this special dispensation make rifle use safer or does it encourage more long-range attempts be taken?

What is the magic formula to determine the number of depredation permits? How many depredation permits or "flock tickets" should any one property get and what is the reason for issuance? In Indiana it is not uncommon for a single property to receive 20 depredation permits. That's quite a few considering most individual farms are far less than 300 contiguous acres.

If the idea is to control deer numbers, shouldn't summer shooting be for does only with a "mistake buck" being infrequently allowed? Probably so, but in Indiana summer shooters can legally take a buck for each permit.

Do all farms want depredation permits? No, because many farmers don't view deer as a menace to their income. One farmer spoke off the record, saying that in the course of normal harvesting more grain is lost to spillage or other mishaps than what deer consume. He's probably right because each year after rain falls on harvested fields, they look like golf courses when the wasted grain sprouts.

Does he forgive deer their trespasses because he himself hunts? No, he doesn't hunt, though he allows free hunting on 98 percent of his property during regular seasons. He is one of the landowners who have always granted permission to those who respectfully ask.

"I like to see deer and I know they have wide ranges so I try to protect them while they're on my ground. All they have to do is drift two farms over and they're goners because my relatives don't agree and they shoot them all, big or small. I tell them they don't have a conscience."

Next week: Part Two of the arguments.

[deerman1]

No there should not be any deer shooting out of season

[vectrix]

Never liked the idea of killing does with spotted fawns, makes for a slow death for the fawn.

[tenring]

The use of "high powered rifles" during the regular season because they are allowed during the depredation hunts does not beg question. That "argument" has been settled in the past many times over and should be considered a waste of time to rehash for the umpteenth time. And to leave bucks alone during "summer hunts" seems to bypass the studies that have shown that the male of the species bunch up during that time and wreck havoc on soybean fields. The renown Mr. Potter writes from an air conditioned office in Evansville and begs the question as to whether or not he owns farm land that has significant losses from our Big Game herd. Another antler worshiper it would seem. Also it would seem that if holders of depredation permits hold off hunting until the last of September or the the first of October, any fawns that are orphaned are quite capable of surviving on their own. And concerning the instance of 20 permits being issued for one property, that is a mute point until the success rate is published along with it. Number of permits issued means nothing until the percentage of kills is determined. One could get 100 permits for 40 acres but if the success rate is only 3-4 percent, then meaningful facts are available. If Big John would cancel a nap or two during the day for awhile, some of facts might come to light. I for one would like to see him on the 20th, but not holding my breath as he knows that he would get mobbed after the meeting to be told how wrong he is. The one depredation hunt I was on a couple of years ago, we agreed not to take any bucks and the landowner shrugged his shoulders stating that the does were the ones doing all the production. In five days of hunting I never heard any other high powered rifles going off in the distance, knowing that landowners were taking care of the population in their own way. Flame away, I'm getting too old to worry about the petty things in life, like getting my picture on the cover of Deer and Deer Hunting Magazine.

[boonechaser]

I live on a farm and am against any "depredation Hunt's". If you have to many deer. Take care of your deer population during hunting season. That's what hunting season's are for!!! For many guy's 1 deer on their property is too many and there is no way to change their mind's.

[tickman1961]

Tenring +

Typical old argument, management and controll of a species to benefit everyone in the system, which includes farmers who are losing thousands of dollars to crop loss.