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HSUS Wants to Waste $170,000 Tax Dollars On Deer Contraception
While Conservationist and Hunters, willing to pay to hunt deer, are ignored.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- The Humane Society of the United States is pushing yet another deer contraceptive program in a national park that will cost U.S. taxpayers more than $170,000.

The plan is being pushed by three U.S. Representatives.

The misinformed trio recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar requesting that the National Park Service (NPS) consider a contraception project to control deer populations in Rock Creek Park. Ironically, the HSUS touts this as a pilot project, offers to cover only half the expense, and then claims great successes in other deer and horse contraceptive programs.

How can it be a pilot test program if they claim to have done it before? And just how “humane” is this type of program?

The contraception delivery requires one-shot from a special firearm that could harm the animal and definitely punches a hole in the target animal’s skin. That open wound could be a source for infestation or result in the development of maggots living in the animal after flies lay eggs at the site. Not good.

The NPS supports an alternative plan that uses archers to remove the surplus deer, bring the herd under control for FREE, and save many tax dollars. NPS information indicates that there are approximately 200 whitetail deer in the park and the only thing currently controlling their deer population is cars. The park covers approximately 1,700 acres.

HSUS has offered to only pay half of the $340,000-plus estimated expense that the project will cost.

“What really strikes us as calculating is that this 100-million-dollar-a-year-fundraising behemoth is only willing to pay a portion of the bill and put the rest on you and I,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSA president and CEO.

“Especially since hunters are willing to effectively take care of the problem and pay for the right to help.”

In this time of budget cuts and economic woes, the NPS has a chance to earn funds by charging a bowhunting permit and letting hunters do what they do best—control overpopulated deer herds.

About:
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

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What You Should Know & Should Not Do If You Find An “Abandoned” Deer Fawn In The Field

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(Ammoland.com)- The fawning season for white-tailed deer in Delaware has begun, with most fawns born during the last week of May through the first week of June.

With the season’s onset come the inevitable calls to DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife about “abandoned” fawns, and how “doing the right thing” means “saving” these newborns by bringing them home or to a wildlife rehabilitator.

Actually that’s the wrong thing to do and the wrong approach to take with your concern, according to DNREC wildlife biologist Joe Rogerson: “There are a number of things people who remove fawns from the field may not realize,” he said. “First and foremost, the fawn hasn’t been ‘abandoned’ at all.

“Newborn fawns need to feed every few hours so the mother never strays far. So even if a fawn appears to be alone, the doe is likely bedded close by,” Rogerson said. “Fawns don’t become active enough to start traveling with their mothers until they are about two months old, so the survival instinct of a newborn fawn is to stay very still and ‘hide’ from predators.”

Furthermore, research has shown that many fawns cared for by people have a greatly decreased chance of survival once they are released back into the wild, compared to their counterparts raised by their mothers. Fawns raised in the wild are able to learn survival instincts from their mothers that people simply cannot teach them.

Not only is removing a fawn from its hiding place not in the animal’s best interest, it is also illegal for an individual in Delaware to possess a live white-tailed deer. If found guilty, such an offense is punishable by a fine not less than $250, nor more than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution and court costs; the person may also be fined and imprisoned for up to 30 days. In addition, any deer held illegally in captivity will be removed by the Division.

“The bottom line is, if you really care about the fawn and its well-being, please leave the animal alone. Its mother will return and the animal will have a far greater chance at survival than if you take it home,” Rogerson added.

For more information about fawns or Delaware’s white-tailed deer, please contact Joe Rogerson, DNREC Wildlife Section, at 302-735-3600.

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