The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-04-18
BARRY SAYS THERE ARE
No TOY" deer on KEYS
Declares Deer
Are Simply
Sub-Species OF
va. WhifetaiI

A couple Of years ago the Ameri-
can public began to be sold the
idea that in the Florida Keys,
there existed a small, unique spe-
Gle Of deer. First. it was the Flori-
da Key deer. Then starting with an
outlandish cartoon by Ding Darl-
ing, depicting this deer as being
smaller than the dogs pursuing the
poor little things, a gradual build
up Of the greatest collection Of mis-
information and false propaganda
ever to be centered in the Florida
Keys, was released.
In this article ! VIM endeavor to
point ont the facts concerning the
size and habits of these deer.
First, there Is nothing unique
about them. and secondly, there is
no such thing as a TOY" deer In
the Keys. They are simply a sub
species Of the Virginia Whitehall
which inhabits portions Of the East
ern United States and parts of Ca
NADIA. In Canada, Maine, Michi-
gan, Pennsylvania and other great
deer states, these deer are quite
large, sometimes weighing as
much ms 200 pounds. In Virginia.
w. Virginia. and the Carolinas you
win find them a little smaller. In
Southern Florida and the great
Everglades country. they are found
still smaller. The deer Of the Keys
approximate the deer Of the Ever
glades in size as well as color.
Basing their writings on car.
toons, comic strips and other
doubtful sources OF information,
many writer's, amateurs and pro-
lessionals. have been carrying the
ball. and some Of our sports writ
ers, in trying 10 qualify themselves
as members Of the Outdoor Writ
ers Association, have done these
deer. as well as Che property own
ers and citizens Of the Florida
Keys, a gross injustice. For in
stance, one writer quoted the State
Game Commission as saying:
"A doe averages IS pounds In
weight, 30 inches in length. and &c
inches high at the shoulders.
This Information was taken
from one single deer which was
killed BY car near the Toll
Gate on Big Pine Key. The writ
Or measured thar deer. phoso-
sraphsd n and turned II over 10
Jack Watson who gave The State
Game Commission this infcrms.
iion. This deer was young and
was moi . healthy animal. n MAS
rvns which had been hanaina
around the Toll Gate and had be-
come quite tame. Many people
on Bic Pine Key saw That deer
before N was killed.
The following data is not con-
lecture; II is true information
gathered over a period Of S years
and gathered absolutely on ton.
bias basis. The writer has seen and
observed At some length, 2s OF
these deer m the past S years.
Others have also been seen by him
as they crossed the road or flashed
through the woods.
OF me u observed. only 8 Or J
q them were under 30 inches in
heiahfh AZ fhe shoulder. Several
does were seen and measured %
10 5z inches % IRE shoulder. Out
ef HE ~. enly 4 bucks were
seen OF these 4 bucks, only one
would hsvs measured less man
~ inches al IRE shoulder and he
was . yeuns deer. One % these
deer observed by she writer In
issl, ard BY sesersl other local
rssldenss, weighed al least Iss
pevnss and had snslsrs 81 net
less Nan . or 10 points. Toy
peerfT7779
The writer has discussed the sire
and HABITS Of these deer With many
Continued On pare Eiuhtl