Where did all the deer go? During deer season, old, and new trucks line up and down the road, most often before sunrise, filling the side ditch like farmers at an auction. Not only has the increase in deer hunters grown, but hunters are allowed to legally take 6 deer statewide. Many people see deer as a nuisance a road hazard or a trophy, none the less, the common, public misconception is that there are too many deer. On the contrary, I believe that there are few deer, and I would go as far to say that the deer population has declined drastically. According to McCombie, in the Two Thousand and Twelve Deer Forecast, around twenty states had lower than normal trends. So, in two thousand twelve, nearly forty percent of the United States was observed
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Packs of coyotes are especially dangerous, and are capable of taking down a fully grown deer. While single coyotes are still a threat to deer, it would be rare for one to attempt a task such as trying to kill a fully grown buck. According to a study about coyotes and fawns,“ Fruit was the only food item in the coyote diet more important than fawns during the fawning season” (Kilgo 5). Often a lone coyote will go after the fawns of a doe, or a yearling. If predators are a problem in an area, lack habitat will be a deciding factor for survival. A lack of habitat will strand both fawns and fully grown deer to the open, where they are more likely to be taken by hunters and predators alike. Deer are most susceptible to predators in the fawning stage. In a study done during the non-fawning period, whitetail deer is found in only nine percent of coyote feces (Turner 5). The rest of the food consumed by the coyotes during this time was vegetation and smaller animals, such as voles. As wild game habitat has been taken away, coyotes are becoming more resourceful with their food. Personally, I have found coyote scat in my barnyard containing muskmelon seeds from our garden. This is alarming, considering the close proximity to our house. Seeing as the coyotes are seeking various food sources, it is reasonable to question if they are having problems finding deer to …show more content…
Even if they are following the rules, they can kill a lot of deer. Many states regulate that only one antlered buck can be harvested per year, however that leaves room for five does to be shot. If a lot of does are shot, and only bucks are around, it limits how many deer are available to reproduce. Currently, this is legal, even though it can lead to excessive deer being killed. Several hunters are not the actual landowners, thus meaning they need to obtain permission before hunting. Just this year, we had a group of hunters trespass on our property while we were hunting. They walked in the woods we were sitting in, even though they knew they did not have permission. Not only is this dangerous, but it is also illegal. We kindly asked them to leave, although they probably went down the road to someone else’s woods. Not all hunters are this way, but many try and use this and similar techniques to increase the area they hunt so they may see more deer. Poaching seems to be rare, but some hunters brag about getting away with it. With a lack of evidence, it is hard to prove they do poach. The more people aware of the consequences poaching has on the deer population, the more people will get turned in.
The public needs to be more informed of the lack of deer, and many states should decrease the bag limit to two or three deer instead of higher bag limits, such as six in the State of Ohio, according to the ODNR.
Packs of coyotes are especially dangerous, and are capable of taking down a fully grown deer. While single coyotes are still a threat to deer, it would be rare for one to attempt a task such as trying to kill a fully grown buck. According to a study about coyotes and fawns,“ Fruit was the only food item in the coyote diet more important than fawns during the fawning season” (Kilgo 5). Often a lone coyote will go after the fawns of a doe, or a yearling. If predators are a problem in an area, lack habitat will be a deciding factor for survival. A lack of habitat will strand both fawns and fully grown deer to the open, where they are more likely to be taken by hunters and predators alike. Deer are most susceptible to predators in the fawning stage. In a study done during the non-fawning period, whitetail deer is found in only nine percent of coyote feces (Turner 5). The rest of the food consumed by the coyotes during this time was vegetation and smaller animals, such as voles. As wild game habitat has been taken away, coyotes are becoming more resourceful with their food. Personally, I have found coyote scat in my barnyard containing muskmelon seeds from our garden. This is alarming, considering the close proximity to our house. Seeing as the coyotes are seeking various food sources, it is reasonable to question if they are having problems finding deer to …show more content…
Even if they are following the rules, they can kill a lot of deer. Many states regulate that only one antlered buck can be harvested per year, however that leaves room for five does to be shot. If a lot of does are shot, and only bucks are around, it limits how many deer are available to reproduce. Currently, this is legal, even though it can lead to excessive deer being killed. Several hunters are not the actual landowners, thus meaning they need to obtain permission before hunting. Just this year, we had a group of hunters trespass on our property while we were hunting. They walked in the woods we were sitting in, even though they knew they did not have permission. Not only is this dangerous, but it is also illegal. We kindly asked them to leave, although they probably went down the road to someone else’s woods. Not all hunters are this way, but many try and use this and similar techniques to increase the area they hunt so they may see more deer. Poaching seems to be rare, but some hunters brag about getting away with it. With a lack of evidence, it is hard to prove they do poach. The more people aware of the consequences poaching has on the deer population, the more people will get turned in.
The public needs to be more informed of the lack of deer, and many states should decrease the bag limit to two or three deer instead of higher bag limits, such as six in the State of Ohio, according to the ODNR.