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UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists say
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:30 pm
by stevie_d_64
http://news.yahoo.com/uk-deer-numbers-s ... 40794.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The comment section below, in the article, spells it all out nicely...
I find it hard to express any pity for their plight...But if they were to solicite help from responsible and enthusiastic gun owners here in the colonies, I'm sure a few sponsored trips, decent bag limits, we might be able to help out over the next few years...
Re: UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists sa
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:40 pm
by JJVP
AndyC wrote:Not much sympathy either. Scotland tried to appease the bunny-huggers a couple of decades ago and were consequently overrun with deer; traffic accidents everywhere and deer slowly and miserably starving to death. So thanks, all you hand-wringing bunny-huggers - you gave thousands of deer an agonizingly slow end; those which the foxes ate alive were probably the lucky ones.
When I went back over to visit family, I was dragged out to a deer-hunt - by then they were considered vermin and no license was needed to shoot them.
I'm sure you put a lot of resistance to being "dragged out to a deer hunt".
Re: UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists sa
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:48 pm
by mamabearCali
Sorry no tears for them. I do feel sorry for the deer. It is far worse to starve to death slowly than to be killed mercifully quickly by a bullet or an arrow.
Re: UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists sa
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:13 pm
by stevie_d_64
AndyC wrote:JJVP wrote:I'm sure you put a lot of resistance to being "dragged out to a deer hunt".
Well, it was completely unexpected - I literally had a .243 bolt-gun shoved into my hands within 5 minutes of meeting Alec and we were in his Landrover 10 minutes later on the way to a farm so he could see what I could do with 3 rounds into a sheet of A4 paper stuck into a hay-bale at roughly 100 yards.
I didn't even get a cup of tea...
That said, it was freezing cold, wet and miserable - one of the best times I've had in my life
Your worst day hunting or fishing is better than your best day at work!!!
Re: UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists sa
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:14 pm
by RottenApple
stevie_d_64 wrote:AndyC wrote:JJVP wrote:I'm sure you put a lot of resistance to being "dragged out to a deer hunt".
Well, it was completely unexpected - I literally had a .243 bolt-gun shoved into my hands within 5 minutes of meeting Alec and we were in his Landrover 10 minutes later on the way to a farm so he could see what I could do with 3 rounds into a sheet of A4 paper stuck into a hay-bale at roughly 100 yards.
I didn't even get a cup of tea...
That said, it was freezing cold, wet and miserable - one of the best times I've had in my life
Your worst day hunting or fishing is better than your best day at work!!!
Re: UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists sa
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:59 pm
by puma guy
AndyC wrote:JJVP wrote:I'm sure you put a lot of resistance to being "dragged out to a deer hunt".
Well, it was completely unexpected - I literally had a .243 bolt-gun shoved into my hands within 5 minutes of meeting Alec and we were in his Landrover 10 minutes later on the way to a farm so he could see what I could do with 3 rounds into a sheet of A4 paper stuck into a hay-bale at roughly 100 yards.
I didn't even get a cup of tea...
That said, it was freezing cold, wet and miserable - one of the best times I've had in my life
That's a lot of hits to take down a sheet of A4 paper? Did you field dress it?
I believe that's the first time I've ever seen the term used except on a copier/printer window.
Re: UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists sa
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:38 am
by puma guy
AndyC wrote:Heh - smarty-pants :p
Sorry I couldn't help myself
Re: UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists sa
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:03 pm
by MeMelYup
Sounds like this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaibab_Plateau" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists sa
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 3:50 pm
by puma guy
Happened in Texas after the screw worm was eradicated. Sterile male screw worm flies were air dropped all over Texas for the benefit of ranchers to eliminate the nasty effect the larvae caused on their animals. Wounds, eyes and nostrils were targets for the eggs which after hatching into larvae ate the flesh. Eventually they were eradicated. Whitetail Deer population exploded causing large scale die offs as browse was all gone.
Re: UK deer numbers spiralling out of control, scientists sa
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:38 pm
by TLE2
When you mess with prey/predator ratios it always causes harm to the prey animals as well as to us. I am reminded of the coyote exterminations many years ago. Field mice and rats ran rampant eating everything in sight.
Cruelty to animals is bad, not culling overabundant herds is cruel.