Circuit Judge Casey Manning extended a week-old temporary restraining order at least through Wednesday. It keeps the Natural Resources Department and the Sea Pines Plantation Community Services Association from thinning the 600 deer roaming the resort island. Animal activists got Circuit Judge Ernest Kinard to temporarily block the kill last week until they could get a decision from Manning on whether to permanently halt the plan and grant them a hearing. Natural Resources and Sea Pines say the expanding herd is a health and public safety threat.
Activists maintain the deer are only a nuisance, eating plants and flowers in the upscale community.
They argue that a kill should be a last resort. Natural Resources and Sea Pines have approved a sharpshooter's using a silenced .22-caliber rifle to kill as many as 200 deer in a baited field on the south side of the island inside the Sea Pines Wildlife Sanctuary, which includes most of the southern part of Hilton Head. In addition, infertility and abortion drugs would be used on some of the herd in other areas. Hunting with firearms ordinarily is banned on Hilton Head, but the Sea Pines board approved the kill. Lawyer Daryl Hawkins, who represented the activists, said permits were issued without public notice, without the requirement of a written application and without a public hearing.