Why not just kill them?

[..]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/nyregion/deer-vasectomies-staten-island.html

[Serk]

If ya' kill one the others will just make extra time and no reduction in numbers will occur.

Snip some, and they'll still be out there competing for mates, thinking they can still seal the deal, thus lowering the total numbers.

[The emperor has no clothes]

It's a curious strategy. Be interesting to see if it works.

[PAVALKER]

Don't they have enough hunters to thin the herds?

[Patrick]

Don't they have enough hunters to thin the herds?

On Staten Island ? 


But, as far as Upstate is concerned, it seems 'they' want every last deer killed.

[Robert]

From the article:

With no natural predators, and hunting outlawed in the city, the population grew rapidly. The department estimates there are now about 2,000 deer on Staten Island — in 2008, a study by the state counted 24.

Hunting in Staten Island  

[Hooter]

There is a simular problem here just north of me. People complain that the deer have invaded town. Not true in this case, the town has grown to invade the deer.

The area just voted to harvest X amount of deer using sharp shooter's and rifles.  Wonder how popular this decision will be when someone shoots one of these critters and it drops in the driveway or front yard of one of these decision makers.  They also brought up shooting weapons in a heavily populated area. But the notion to shoot vs other methods was supported. This is a resort town and the area is full of new expensive housing and upper class people. The deer are eating their flowers.  

Not quite an island but the same kind of issue. The DNR has been involved and darting / sterilization  brought up but was rejected stating it wasn't a viable solution and the deer may return?

[cookiedough]

I guess if not able to shoot them, this method is the best thing.

Not deer, but what will work for an abundance of geese in our town of 1100 with probably over 400 at anyone time crapping down at our small 3-4 acre lake in town? You cannot even go down and walk in the grass or concrete walkway without stepping in crap. 

Dogs do not work,  tried already coyote calls thru speakers, what next?  I offered to shoot them all with a 12 gauge able to get dozens of them easily per day, but shooting in town is not allowed.  DNR needs to get involved but that takes money am sure the village does not want to spend.

[Patrick]

Ya, shooting/hunting on Staten Island. As anti-gun as NYC is, this is going to go over really really big.  But the shooting under somewhat controlled circumstances seems to work. It has been done for a couple decades here Upstate in the larger cities. At first they used archers but switched to 'sharpshooters' [ whatever they are]. [ thats sarcasm, just in case].

As said, 'they' seem to be wanting to kill every deer in this state. Right here one can get licenses to kill 6.
There are a lot of deer in this area, but, I don't believe there are that many. But, there are also fewer hunters every year.

Someone brought up geese. Early season is just ending here. The limit is now set at 15/day with no restrictions to shell limits. Federal law has always set the shotgun shell limit to 3. Now it is gone, guys are using extended magazine tubes.

[0leman]

We live on the edge of town, above our home is the open wild country.  We have deer that come into our area and enjoy my Wife's flowers and some of our bushes.  I normally ask them to leave when I catch them. 

Can't hunt them in town but can go a half a mile away and shoot them, if I had a license and permission from private land owner.   BUT I haven't gone hunting since I left WY in 2002, don't need the meat (can afford store bought meat since girls left home), and getting old enough that the thought of dragging a deer to truck not fun.

As a side note, the town where I was in WY, had restrictions on "Firing weapons" to hunt in town.  So one individual use a Bow to take down a nice buck in the grave yard.  After that, the law as changed to read "Hunting".   

[Jess from VA]

Yeah, bring on belt fed deer hunting.  

[Patrick]

Yeah, bring on belt fed deer hunting.  

Perfect for Staten Island !

[Jess from VA]

These would take out deer humanely (instantly) too, and in decent numbers.

Probably a good idea to limit human access though.





And look what I found.

[PAVALKER]

In residential areas around here they have had private hunts even outside of normal deer hunting season to eradicate some of the over populated deer.  I think they were, for the most part Bow/Arrow   Yea, some residents didn't like it..... but I guess the others over ruled them and got it done.   Still an issue tho....

[Rams]

Not a hunter but also not a fan of those forest rats.   Realizing a certain balance must be maintained, I don't really care if they reduce the deer population to endangered species levels.

Use the meat to feed the homeless and those less fortunate.    I'm also not a fan of venison and that's why I'm not a hunter.   

[Valker]

Not a hunter but also not a fan of those forest rats.   Realizing a certain balance must be maintained, I don't really care if they reduce the deer population to endangered species levels.

Use the meat to feed the homeless and those less fortunate.    I'm also not a fan of venison and that's why I'm not a hunter.   

Around here a lot of folks who don't like venison mix it 50/50 with hamburger or sausage and like it fine.

[cookiedough]

Not a hunter but also not a fan of those forest rats.   Realizing a certain balance must be maintained, I don't really care if they reduce the deer population to endangered species levels.

Use the meat to feed the homeless and those less fortunate.    I'm also not a fan of venison and that's why I'm not a hunter.   

no better cut of meat in this world, seriously, than the backstraps (loins) of a deer, thinly sliced with some flour/seasoning and pan fried with some butter or oil and nutmeg to cut the gamey taste down a smidge.  MELT in your mouth tender meat just make sure it is cooked enough otherwise that night/next morning you will be heading to the poddy a lot (do not ask me how I know)....   

Geese by the hundreds in a small few acres daily (except winter when our lake is frozen) is not good, even geese being hit by cars on major hwy. in our county doing 50 mph.

[Rams]

Not a hunter but also not a fan of those forest rats.   Realizing a certain balance must be maintained, I don't really care if they reduce the deer population to endangered species levels.

Use the meat to feed the homeless and those less fortunate.    I'm also not a fan of venison and that's why I'm not a hunter.    

Around here a lot of folks who don't like venison mix it 50/50 with hamburger or sausage and like it fine.

Gosh, I hate to see hamburger and/or sausage wasted like that but, if they are happy with the end result, I'm happy for them.

In fact, I always wish hunters the best of luck and hope they get their limit (plus 1). 

[Pappy!]

I agree...backstrap and the tenderloins are both amazing pieces of venison.
The rest I grind up and mix with about 15-20% beef fat for hamburgers or anything that requires ground meat.

[Patrick]

No one cans it ?  We do a couple canner loads a year.

[cookiedough]

No one cans it ?  We do a couple canner loads a year.

We use to can it decades ago.  It was awesome as well.

Too bad geese does not even come close as tasting as good as deer or I would shoot a few 100 per year. 

[G-Man]

How did deer get on Staten Island to begin with?  The toll on the Vernazano is $17.00. 

 

[Wizzard]

Find an expert sniper or two and pay them to just shoot their balls off. would be easier 

[gregk]

Better not happen here. Damn fools are messen with mother nature an if one got loose an I ended up shootin it for food on the table I'd have to sue somebody for tainting the meat. I'm afraid it wouldn't be edible meat. What the hell are they thinkin ?

[Willow]

Find an expert sniper or two and pay them to just shoot their balls off. would be easier 

Wouldn't work the same.  If he loses his testicles his testosterone goes away and he won't compete.  With the vasectomy he still wants to mate with anything he can not realizing it has no procreative effect.

This strategy is used with some other pest animals also to reduce the birth rate.

[Jess from VA]

Find an expert sniper or two and pay them to just shoot their balls off. would be easier 

Wouldn't work the same.  If he loses his testicles his testosterone goes away and he won't compete.  With the vasectomy he still wants to mate with anything he can not realizing it has no procreative effect.

This strategy is used with some other pest animals also to reduce the birth rate.

Within reason, that pretty much sums up my experience.