The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1954-03-18

have been bowls of protest from
individuals and Sportsmen's orgaui-
cations declying the slaughter AL
though the females of uur other
game, from squirrels TO bears re-
ccive no special consideration with
ont it adversely affecting the re-
productive capacity of the species,
well meaning, but misguided midi
viduals believe that any open sea-
SON on female deer would result
in drastic decrease in our fawn
crop. and in the eventual decima-
ton Of the species.
To casual observer it appears
only logical that amy decrease in
our females would be followed by
a decrease In our faWn crop. How
ever. since our does are now re-
producing at a rate far below their
theoretical ability, we may harvest
a portion of them without sacri-
ficing the reproductive capacity of
the herd as a whole, if the remain
ing females will produce higher
percentage Of young than they are
doing at the present.
The Adirondack area I'm New
York State has "A deer problem the
same as we do in Maryland Do
you know why? Because they can't
see the idea Of doe season up
there, largely because Of the sell
fish opinions Of some Of the ma
tives, the same ass it is ia MARY
LAND.
Forty years ago, when deer were
rc-introduccd INTO Pennsylvania,
the shooting Of the females was
prohibited to increase their herd
at the maximum rate. The inn
mature males were likewise pro-
tected that they might become the
sires Of their future herds and
provide trophies the following
season.
They felt that even if a hundred
percent Of the legal bucks were
killed there would he sufficient
young males to service the does.
and the actual reproductive ca
pacity Of their herd would not suf-
fer. (This plan is similar to the
one that is used in Maryland at
the present timc,)
T his plan appears logical
enough on paper, but any veteran
live stock breeder could see that
we are headed for disaster. We
are constantly removing our most
virile males, and retaining our
scrubs and young stock for repro
ductive purposes.
When deer are well fed, large
percentage 1900 or more of the
annual kill of bucks are Yearlings.
In Maryland and the rest Of the
United States, the hunters are
shooting the bucks with the larg-
est antlers. If tanner with a herd
# beef on dairy cattle would con-
sistently butcher his biggest and
best bulls and saved the ScraWny
bulls for breeders, he would soon
90 out of business. But American
hunters manage their deer herds
in just that manner.
Our policy of saving the spikes
and shooting the trophy bucks may
gradually be producing a breed Of
spike bucks. This is the primary
reason why we should legalize
these animals.
1t is time we looked at our deer
problem from a hard-boiled bust
ness point of view, and stop
squeezing tears Of sentiment for
the "mothers of our herds" and
the fawns which are too young
and pretty to die.
1t isn't kindness to protect them
during hunting season so they may
stalve a few months later.
1t isn't logical to preserve our
runts and undesirable males for
breeding purposes.
1t isn't good business to Try to
increase our herds on ranges al
ready over-stocked
For twenty years we have man
aged our deer herd with our emo
tions. 1t is high time we used our
heads. Signed:
Delbert Bittinger, Jr.
Larry Allen Friend
lib Core Class