Doing the math is not necessary.

The reality is, no one has a crystal ball and no one can accurately count the amount of deer we will have here in the future. To state we could control deer population in five or even ten years with the use of recreational hunting in residential area like East Goshen Township is neither logical nor practical. Many studies have shown that recreational hunting actually increases the herd as more food is available and deer have multiple births.

In order to maintain a deer population of about 15 deer per square mile; the Township would need to kill between 40 - 50 percent of the current deer population. Each year they fail to obtain such a level will be a set back. Killing a small percentage of deer, as in the case in East Goshen recreational hunt, will only prolong the hunt beyond the set goal of ten years. Thus recreational hunting in an area like East Goshen Township is pointless.

Even the Board of supervisor agrees that killing a small number of deer "may not yield a meaningful harvest". On August 22, 2006, Marty Shane stated in a public meeting, "we hear you and we empathize." Addressing the Board he said, "There is a deer problem. But it's not worth 30-50 deer to have so many people upset. I'm out of the game. These people are dead right." And Thom Clapper agreed with Marty and stated we need to get more than 30-50 deer this year.

Is it possible to kill more than 50 deer in the four passive parks? Or should we say, can we kill more that 145 deer in the passive parks? Will it be safe? Most likely not! For the Township to kill between 50 - 60 percent of the current deer population (approximately 150 - 170 deer), they will need to open hunting up to even more lands and make the hunting season longer.

On January 22, 2008, at a Board of Supervisors meeting, Marty Shane stated he learned from the QDMA film that the only effective way to reduce a herd is to use sharpshooters. Bow hunting is effective as a way to maintain herd size after it has been sufficiently reduced through sharpshooting.

So why are we using recreational bow hunting? How will this stop the spread of Lyme disease and how will this lower the rates of car/deer collisions? If anything, both will spread. The hunting will force the deer to be on the move. They will be frightened from there nesting area and the bucks will need to travel larger distance to mate.

On May 1, 2007, Carl G Roe, Executive Director of the PA Game Commission, testified for the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) in front of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. One of the member of the committee, is Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester).

And here an abstact from the meeting:

"Senator Dinniman expressed concern over the deer population in Chester County stating that his area has one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the nation. Roe stated the PGC has increased the allocations for WMU 5C and has increased the number of available red tags. He also said they are considering revising the rules governing the harvesting of deer to lessen crop damage. Roe closed by stating that while the Deer Urban Management Plan has been completed, its full implementation is hampered by limited resources. Senator Dinniman wondered if the Department of Health should share in the management of the problem given the fact that doctors in the area are reporting multiple cases of Lyme disease a day. Roe explained that ticks carrying infections are also borne on animals such as chipmunks and mice. He argued that especially in the Southeast, the deer herd is somewhat compacted and therefore do not roam around a lot and spread the disease like they would in other areas. Roe pointed out that rodents are more responsible for carrying ticks when they are in the stage where they spread Lyme's disease. Deer carry them when they are in the reproduction stage."

Is recreational hunting more important to the Deer Management Committee and the Board of Supervisors then reducing Lyme disease and car/deer collisions?

http://safetyfirstforeastgoshen.org

Home