The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-06-25
THE DEER BECOMING APEST

ing at such a rate that the farmers
whose wheat and corn lands border on
the woods have had to adopt measures
similar to those in common use against
other pests, in order fo save their
crops. This is remarkable state of
affairs in vicinity so generally inhabit-
ed, but it is directly in line with the
prophecies of some of the older Long
Islanders made years ago. They pro-
dicted that the day would come when
the deer wonld be bigger pest to the
farmer than the crow. That day seems
to have arrived. The farmers can on
ly use mild measures against the deer.
They cannot shoot them without vio-
lating the game laws. They might
take chances were it not for the fact
that agents Of the game commissioners
are scattered about here in great num-
bers, and they have elaborate methods
of tracing the slaughter of every deer.
The farmers cannot get near enough to
the deer to infiict punishment on them,
which might teach them to avoid the
spots where it had been inflicted. So
there is nothing for them to do but to
adopt the methods which have been in
vogue against the crow. The result
is the most frightful looking dummies
in the fields near the woods. Uncan.
ny spectres rise out of the rye, wheat
and young corn, with long arms
stretched out toward the woods. Ian
terms are swung from poles in the
fields, and torches fame along the
borders.
The deer come out of the woods, look
and run away. They come again, and
once more depart in panlc. In the
course of half dozen visits, however,
they become accustomed to tue devices
of the enemy, and wander around the
fields, munching the farmers choicest
crop as though it were underground
in virgin wood. At the first indica-
tion of the approach of human being
they flee into the woods, where moth
ing but the rifle can bring them to ac-
count for their misdeeds. The farmer
may throw stick or stone, but it's
effects on the deer is about the same
as if feather had been hurled after it.
In this immediate vicinity the deer
has flourished to greater extent than
in any other part in Long Island.
The woods are full of them, big, fine,
healthy fellows, full of life, and bold as
wolves. A few years ago there came
cry that the deer were being exter-
minated. The cry was first against
the poachers, who would atari out the
night before legal shooting day, and
the pop of whose Guns would be heard
in The woods a full two hours before
the clocks in town truck the midnight
hour The save wardens conducted
most effective war against the poarch-
ers. and last season there were fewer
of these offences than ever before.
When the poachers were disposed of,
the cry was raised against the sports
men. 1t was said they were slaugh-
tering the animals that many of them
shot more than the law gave them
right, and that they adopted other
illegal measures which promised in a
very short time to exterminate the
deer entirely.
Despite all this cry about the
deer, the animals have been increasing
in number in many parts of Long Is
land for years. The increase herea-
bouts has been marked. In past years,
the woods have always provided
enough food for the deer. 1t has been
rare, indeed, for one to be driven by
hunger out into the open.
Judging from the appearance of some
of the fields bordering on the woods,
it has been hunger alone that has dri-
ven the deer out. Hundreds of dol
lars worth of crops have been destroy
ed. What the deer have not eaten
they have trampled down, and the
farmers are indignant over laws which
make them helpless victims.
At Bohemia, settlement two miles
from this place, fields Of wheat and
rye, belonging to Joseph Sebek and
Louis Hubel, have been almost entire.
ly Destroyed by the deer. Hubel and
Schck couldn't believe that the deer
had done the damage until they watch
cd one night, and saw them come out
of the woods, one after another, and
enter the fields. Like other farmers
they have rugged up scarecrows, Ian
terms and torches, and since then the
deer have done less damage than be-
fore. This remedy, however, is only
temporary, and the farmers may soon
apply to the game commissioner for
permission to shoot the deer who in
wade their land More effective relief
still, they think, would be to prolong
the hunting season, and let the hun
ters reduce the number OF deers, and,
at the same time, make them wilder.
The summer girl is with us.
,JuneWpddin1S are numerous aud