I see post like this , and I have to wonder about the mentality of certain outdoorsmen. We have several states with very successful deer programs, and many allow the usage of feeders, and supplements, and have for decades with no ill effect to their populations. I feel that when a problem does come up the first thing many individuals in wildlife like to blame is the feeding of whitetail deer. This is nothing short of a knee jerk reaction , and not knowing really what the true problem might be at the time, but they feel the need for something to been done, and a blame source. Supplement feeding offers these people a scapegoat!
Shooting a deer over a feeder offers many advantages, not just an easy kill !! Deer may be selectively harvested, and populations controlled as to the needs of the herd, plus the feed also offers an opportunity for other species to thrive, like game birds. The Texas hill country is loaded with quail , and turkey, and wintering doves as well. I have on more than one occasion taken deer that needed to be removed, thus helping the over al health of the population. Your able to supplement the population to insure a certain continued level of health within the population through out the year. These people just don’t put out feed during the hunting season, but all through the whole year.
I think for many people that have lived in a culture of it not being allowed, then they feel that it is like some unfair advantage to the hunter, but has sportsmen I think we have to look past that, and see how wildlife benefits as a whole, and what might be gained if we were to take a different approach to supplementing wildlife.
I have never killed a deer in Illinois over a pile of corn, but I have shot many out of corn fields, so the only difference is the size of the bait pile !! I have shot deer around feeders in Texas, and I know of four times I shot crippled bucks that I knew were going to be coyote food soon. I spent my tag on them, because it was the right thing to do, and I have known many other people in my life that have done the same.
Landowners with good populations of whitetail deer I feel would welcome the opportunity to better manage these herds that would best fit the conditions at hand, verses just taking what mother nature gives. Good thing we don’t take that approach to farming, and livestock production, or we all might not eat as good as we do today.
Like I said many other states do it, and with herds much larger than ours, and have been doing it for decades( Texas started in the early 50’s), so what makes our wildlife people so much smarter ?? Some of these states have a herd that would dwarf ours, but yet our people have all the answers, that is the type of mentality I question. I think those at the policy level at times have no idea why, or how, or what to do, and some just have no clue at all. God forbid someone like at what has, and has not worked before making knee jerk reactions.
Now I no for some its an ethics deal, and if that is how you feel, then by all means chose to hunt differently. I feel that is your right, and respect your choice, but please don’t over look the advantage that supplement feeding could offer a population, and the other species as well. I have seen the positive, and if far out weights what some would fear is an unfair advantage. Thanks for the rant…............RTT
