published 3/9/04
2/27/04
Dear Citizens Voice
In "Pennsylvania hunters are the best way to control deer
population" (2/26/04), Joe Mattie admits that hunters "stocked
deer in the state at the turn of the century."
Hunting, itself, increases deer numbers. After a hunt,
deer numbers rebound to higher than they were previously, as there are now
fewer deer competing for resources. Does reproduce at a younger age; carry
embryos to term (instead of absorbing them, as non-hunted deer do when their
numbers exceed available food), and give birth to twins and triplets.
In addition to using stocking and hunting to create more
live targets for hunters, game agencies manipulate the environment to favor
game species, to the detriment of native non-game species and native plant
life.
After intentionally creating this overpopulation, hunters
and their government sugar daddies demonize the deer. They blame deer for:
1. deer/car collisions, though auto insurance statistics
demonstrate that most collisions occur during hunting season, as terrified
animals flee onto roads.
2. Lyme Disease, though public health agencies confirm
that hunting does not decrease the incidence of Lyme disease, and may
increase it.
3. deer starvation, though hunting causes deer to run
off needed fat reserves, and wounded deer cannot eat.
The predictable next step is to tell the public that
hunting is the only way to lower the population.
Mattie says that the deer have no natural predators. While
wildlife biologists know that predator numbers are dependent on prey numbers
and not vice versa (prey numbers are dependant on available resources), the
fact remains that the lack of predators is due to hunters.
Mattie calls hunters "the foremost conservationists in the
state." The only thing they conserve is hunting. Funds from
Pittman-Robertson (which are dependant on the number of hunting and fishing
licenses sold) and matching funds from the General Fund (comprised mostly
of
tax dollars) go entirely to creating more recreational opportunities
for hunters.
Hunters routinely wound and kill themselves, other
hunters, innocent members of the public (who have the audacity to be in
their homes, yards, or cars, while hunters are recreating), and non-target
animals (including endangered species and companion animals, shot
intentionally or by mistake).
Go to
www.all-creatures.org/cash to learn more about
destructive wildlife management practices.
Susan Gordon, Representative
The Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting
Box 562
New Paltz, NY 12561
