Saving the deer herd
Apr 01, 2011 12:00 am
To the Editor:
The recent article about savings Maine’s deer herd in the Sun Journal once again amounts to fluff.
For over 20 years, the state has had agreements in place with landowners to protect deer wintering areas and outreach to manage them. In the end, most agreements allow the landowner to accomplish what they want to on their property.
Even the bureau that oversees the management of Maine’s Public Land has eliminated deer wintering area in the past.
It is time for action, Maine’s whitetail deer herd in western, eastern and northern Maine is at a critical point.
Current conditions have allowed coyotes and domestic dogs to kill a deer whenever they desire. Yes, a domestic dog running at large for only a short time is killing a deer somewhere!
There are currently laws in place to allow the department to be proactive about the protection of our deer herd.
Commissioner Woodcock should take the lead and direct Maine Wardens to aggressively pursue domestic dog problems statewide and coyote control efforts in deer wintering areas. There is not time to plan, action is needed, the next four weeks are critical to the survival of the whitetail deer.
Rick Mills,
Andover