Deer Culling Must Be Stopped

To the Editor:

Many people might not be aware of the deer culling that is being planned in Newtown. Hunters from our town, as well as surrounding towns, are gathering for a massive deer hunt to try to decimate the tick population. They think that if they kill a bunch of deer, there will be fewer ticks because deer are their main food source. This is an inhumane and unintelligent way of dealing with the problem.

If we allow this hunting to take place, deer will be killed and ticks won’t have their normal hosts to feed off of. They will be forced to go to other animals, such as raccoons, squirrels, and house pets who will then get the ticks more often, which defeats the purpose of what the hunters are supposedly trying to do, which is keep the ticks away from the humans and get rid of them.

If we start killing off the deer in Newtown, then there will be a greater food source because the deer that used to eat it are now gone. The deer from towns around Newtown will then migrate to our town because they are looking for food.

In our town, we can go out into our own yard and feel safe letting our children play around the house. But, if we allow hunters to kill deer wherever they want, there will be hunters with guns or bows and arrows, all around town in the woods, and around your own house. How will we know if our own yards are safe, especially if they are near the woods?

The bowhunters are able to set up tree stands anywhere. Tree stands are simply a small place up in a tree where hunters with bow and arrows sit and wait for a deer to come by. They lure the deer out with food, and hide in the tree until they come near. This could be right next to your house. Remember, hunters need permission to hunt in your yard, but not around it. This means that a bow hunter might start shooting at a deer near your yard and the deer might wander into your yard with an arrow in its neck, and what would you do then? Now the deer is suffering, and the hunter has to get permission to go on your yard to get the animal.

Also, the hunter could shoot at a deer and miss, which is especially dangerous if children or anyone else happens to be outside. We do not want hunters to be able to hunt anywhere when it puts us in danger.

There are numerous future and present voters who are against deer culling in Newtown. I am one of many concerned teenagers in the town. This deer culling must be stopped, and we need to get the word out about it. The hunters’ plan solves nothing and we the people can stop them!

Sincerely,

Shannon Barra

NHS Sophomore

183 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Sandy Hook              December 3, 2008