It is no surprise most of the Cedar Rapids Urban Deer Task Force wants to kill deer. This result has been carefully orchestrated via selection of task force members, a process designed to exclude other management options, and agendas focused on killing.

Those hoping killing will put a stop to deer eating their plants are going to be sorely disappointed. Rabbits eat plants, too. The only way to stop browse is protect plants with repellents, netting and fencing.

Killing or crippling random deer does nothing to stop surviving deer from eating the same flowers or crossing the same roads. Killing does not reduce populations in the long term. Removing some deer means more food for remaining deer. More food means does have larger litters and litters at a younger age. Populations, left alone, self regulate. Killing leads to more killing as deer numbers increase following a fall kill. Killing is costly, causes safety problems and pits neighbor against neighbor.

The invitation to serve on the 2005 task force stated the group would be "bringing forward and promoting the findings and recommendations generated from the '98-'99 report."

The 1998 deer task force recommended non-lethal methods and monitoring Iowa City's sharpshooting program. That task force had different members, a democratic process, thoroughly researched and discussed all options.

The recommendations - never given a chance to work - included data collection, educational and safety measures. The report recommended against bow-hunting, saying: "the 1997 bow-hunt killed a small number of deer and was controversial."

No form of hunting is more inaccurate and vicious than bow-hunting. Hunters cannot kill a deer instantly with a bow. Even a well-hit deer bleeds to death.

Nine of 10 archers cannot put four consecutive arrows in the 9-inch bull of a 35-yard target. On average, 21 shots are made for every deer killed. Factors working against the archer are: arrow curved trajectory and deer reacting to the bow string.

Bow-hunters average a 50 percent crippling rate. For every deer killed, another is wounded, left unretrieved to suffer for hours or weeks before they die. Proficient archers are the primary problem. They are more apt to hit and wound a deer than the inexperienced archer who misses altogether.

Bow-hunting pits neighbor against neighbor. If your neighbors allows bow-hunters on their land or you live near city property allowing hunters, an errant arrow may hit your child, cat, dog or house. There is a good chance you or your children will see dead or dying deer in your yard.

It is irresponsible to allow hunting in a high-density urban area. Hunting is likely to increase deer/vehicle accidents in Cedar Rapids as frightened deer run onto roadways.

Hunting results in accidents. From 2001 to 2004 in Iowa, there were three fatal and 60 non-fatal hunting accidents.

This is an ill-conceived, knee-jerk reaction to deer/human conflict issues. If the issue is browse and accidents, the 1998 task force made solid recommendation that should be implemented.

If the issue is "too many deer," we need to realize the subjectivity of that complaint and look at facts. People are seeing more deer because developers are taking more deer habitat, forcing deer to live in smaller areas. The 2005 Cedar Rapids deer count was virtually the same as in 2000.

I am seeing fewer, thinner, smaller deer and a dramatic decrease in numbers of fawns this year. Perhaps Cedar Rapids deer are self regulating. Wouldn't it be a shame to upset the natural balance by killing?

That we would solve a subjective complaint with a controversial decision like bow-hunting is irresponsible at best. It makes one wonder who is benefiting and how?

If, as defenders of bow-hunting claim, the essence of sport hunting is the wilderness experience and the thrill of the chase, rather than the simple pleasure of killing animals, urban deer population control does not apply.

I urge the City Council to review the entire 11-page 1998 task force report and implement the recommendations. Let's keep bow-hunting out of our city.

Laurie Crawford Stone of Cedar Rapids is an attorney and served on the 1998 and 2005 deer task forces.