The sun., 1897-04-25
DEER BECOMING A PEST.
LEAVING THE LONG ISLAND WOODS
TO FEED ON THE CROPS

Farmers Dare Not shoot Them ana Cannot
Catch Theus-TryinE 20 brighten Them with
NaoHstrositIes In the shape OF scnrecrows
They want y Longer Open season.
SAYvnLE. L. l.. April 2l.-The deer in this
vicinity are Increasing at such n rate that the
farmers whose wheat and corn lands border
on tho woods have had 20 adopt measures
similar to those in common use against other
pests in order to save their crops. This 10
remarkable state of affairs In vicinity 50
generally inhabited. but IL Is directly in line
with the prophecies of some OF the older Long
Islanders made years ago. They predicted
that the day would come when the deer would
be a bigger pest to the farmer than the crow.
That day seems To have arrived. Tho farm
ers can only use mild measures against tha
deer. They cannot shoot them without vio-
lattng the game laws. They might take chances
were II not for tho fact that agents OF the
Game Commissioners are scattered about here
In great numbers. and thew have elaborate
methods OF tracing the slaughter OF every
deer. The farmers cannot get near enough TO
the deer TO iniIct punishment on them. which
might teach them ~ avoid the spots where it
had been inflicted. SO there IL nothing for
them to do but to adopt the methods which
have been in vogue azninst the crow. rhe re-
suit is tho most frightful- looking dummies in
the fields near the woods. Uncanny spectres
rise out OF the rye, wheat, and young corn,
with long arms stretched out toward the
woods. Lanterns are swung from poles ir
the fields and torches fano along the borders.
Tho deer come out Of the woods look. and
run away. They como again and once more
depart in panic. In the course OF half
dozen visits. however. they become accus-
toned to the devices of the enemy and wan
der around the fields, munching the farmers
choicest crop as though IL were underground
IN m w,rgn wTod tnG mr.. ,h,cateh ar aas },to 91
the woods. where nothing but the rifle can
bring Them TO account for their misdeeds.
The farmer may throw a stick or stone but
It's effect on the deer is about the Same as II
feather had been hurled after It,.
In this Immediate vicinity the deer has -four
ished to greater extent than in any other
part OF Long Island. The woods are full OF
% ife and k bold 0 as % wolves. few Years s't ago
there came & T,y that the deer were being ex.
poachers. who would start out the night before
legal shooting day, and the pop o; whose unns
would be heard in the woods full two hours
before the clocks In town struck the mdniRlt
hour. The game wardens conducted a most
effective war against the poachers. and last sea-
ever before. When the poachers were dis
posed OF the cry was RAISED against the sports
animals. that many of them shot more lan
the law gave them right to. and that they
tirely.
DESPITE all this cry about The slaughter tho
deer. the animals have be en- increasing in num-
ber in many parts of Long Island for years.
The Increase herea bout has been marked. In
past years the woods haye always provided
enough food for the deer. 1t has been rare in
deed for one to be driven by hunger out into
the open.
Judging rom the appearance OF some OF the
fields bordering on the woods. II has been hun
ger alone that has driven the deer out. Hun
dreds of dollars worth of crops have been de-
stroyed. What the deer have not eaten they
have tram oled down. and the farmers are in
diguant over laws which make them helpless
victims.
AT Bohemia. a settlement two miles from
this place. fields Of wn-at AMI rye belonging to
Joseph Sebek and Louis Hubal have been al
most entirely destroled by the deer. HubSl
and Sebok couldn't believe thB: the deer had
do"e the damage uutii they watched vne night
and saw hem come out OF the woods one after
another and enter their fields Like other
farmers they have rgged scarecrows. Ian
terns.and torches. and since then the deer have
done less damage than before. This remedy,
however. is only temporary. and the farmers
may soop apply tn the Game Commis siouer for
permission to shoot the deer who invade their
land. More effcc i've relief still. they think.
would be to rrolong the hunting season. and
let the hunters reduce the number OF deer
and at the same time make .hem wilder.