Deer in trouble/where is the money

[DaleK]

Sparkplug I have relatives who were involved heavily until they came home one day and found, shall we say, "privileged hunters" in their back yard shooting multiple deer as they came to the feeders and discovered there wasn't a thing they could do to stop it.

[sparkplug]

Hi DaleK. The feeding we do is not with auto feeders but done daily by hand. The feeding is not done during any hunting season so they would be poaching. Also most of the land is private so outsiders that should not be there can be removed easily. I have been feeding for 24 years and have not had any problem like you speak off.
There be war if something like that happened .

[Blackwolf]

I think feeding deer is wrong, under any circumstances. It changes their biology and relationship to man. It removes their fear of man, and makes them rely on man for food instead of "pawing" and foraging for their own. Will they get skinny? Some will, as well some will die. It will make the herd stronger.

As I have stated before, Baiting can be a useful tool, but feeding year round in my mind is making pets out of them. If thats the case why not just hold feed out with one hand and a knife in the other. When they come to eat, just slit a throat. When I've discussed this with Biologists from UofL, and UofC, and when I get a chance with Kowalski, dean of wildlife studies in Deathbridge, and they all agree with me with feeding wildlife and even baiting. It comes to an issue of "fair chase" however it is all a question of..... Hold on guys .................................................. .................



Ethics and your moral compass.

[Dythbringer]

While this winter has been harder than winters past, I don't think it will wipe out entire deer herds. Some will die, no doubt, but that is nature. Deer population is high. The herd will survive.

Suceeding in advocating the MNR start feeding deer because guys want a high herd population come fall means there will be less money for programs such as combatting invasive species, park programs, etc. I would much rather the MNR spend money to destroy the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle (for example) than to put out feed for deer. The deer will survive, maybe not in as high of numbers as in the fall but they will survive.

Dyth

[jaycee]

Sparkplug I have relatives who were involved heavily until they came home one day and found, shall we say, "privileged hunters" in their back yard shooting multiple deer as they came to the feeders and discovered there wasn't a thing they could do to stop it.

I remember articles in the newspapers about these "privileged hunters " shooting deer coming to the feeding stations around the Huntsville area, while there were school kids out on day trips to observe the deer .
As you have mentioned , there was nothing that could or was done about it. it was just easy pickings for these "privileged hunters".

[Plog]

On the weekend the feed store got a request for a price quote on corn & oats per tonne from one of the local Angler & Hunters Club. I don't know if this is at the request of the MNR or voluntary. It's been a long cold winter here so far (not exceptional snow depth), maybe they feel March won't bring any relief for the deer?? Going to be interesting to see what doe tag allocation is this year compared to 2013.

[hunter391]

Agree. The money is *supposed* to go to f&w management. We know this because both MNR and OFAH are telling us this.

But since it is less than what is required to entirely fund MNR, there's quit a bit of general revenue tax put into MNR too, and it's pretty hard to tell which dollars are which - particularly when MNR also spends a lot of time and money doing enforcement for OMFRA. No way to tell how its being spent.

I seen some MNR overspending last weekend, They were hauling around there fish sniffing dog in a $1500.00 ski-boos . Probably could have had a dog box on skis built a lot cheaper then that.

[mark270wsm]

Deer Could Have Trouble Surviving The Winter
By CKDR News - March 3rd, 2014 - 9:53am


There could be fewer deer making it through the winter in northwestern Ontario this year.
Wildlife officials say deep snow, hard crusts and frigid temperatures are playing a factor.
Senior wildlife biologist with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Mark Ryckman says high mortality is expected.
Ryckman says still there's no need for any human intervention.
He does encourage people to help deer by packing down trails in areas frequented by the animals, and by cutting preferred food sources for easier access.