Chattahoochee Bend State Park will allow hunters to harvest deer and feral hogs and kill coyotes for two days this December.
Thirty bucks will allow you to harvest two bucks (or does) after a mandatory pre-hunt meeting with park officials.
After debating the issue on the “Friends” Facebook Group, I was a bit surprised to see that many support the hunt. One commenter even complained about seeing three herds of deer on a twilight ride. Another said that deer were a dangerous threat to park visitors.
That prompted this reply from me:
“I guess I'm just a silly old man, but when I go to a park I WANT to see deer and coyotes and other forms of wildlife. If I saw three herds I would be thrilled!
The park speed limit is 20 MPH, so I don't think that the threat of injury is all that great. If the herd needs to be thinned, I think that it should be done by professionals and not by anyone willing to pay 30 dollars. (sic)…
You’ll notice I don't use words like "slaughter" or "murder" although I do see the wanton shooting of coyotes as cruel and unnecessary. I understand a harvested deer or hog is food on the table rather than road kill. But as I have reiterated, I would prefer to see the herd controlled by professionals.”
To me a park is a park. It is NOT a wildlife management area, a state forest, or a game land. Hunting by amateurs should not be part of population control because of potential damage to fragile ecosystems.
I have nothing against hunting at all. I am absolutely opposed to hunting within the boundaries of a state park.
Period!
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Even though my hubby hunts, I hate it..and as you said, they are infringing on your safety/area..boooo!!
Richard, you are a true conservationalist at heart...i do see a need for the animals control of offspring and so it is not such a bad thing truthfully..
Kristin...
By the end of the debate, I agreed to adopt a "wait and see" attitude and hope that I am wrong. I was convinced that the harvest would be conducted under proper supervision with minimal impact on the park. Who says that you can'tteach an old coyote new tricks!
Ginny...
I'm not against hunting, I just want the park to be a refuge for both people and wildlife!
Hi Richard. I am not against the idea of hunting and although I have heard this idea for population control before, I am not sure why they would not hire a professional. Seems that this could be dangerous.
Hi Richard...While you know that I am a hunter, the question I have is are the deer and Hogs doing damage to the parks fauna. Hogs are to be very respected and can be very dangerous. I can understand your feelings about if it needs to be done to use professionals, but i have seen hunters do a better and more professional job than the so called 'sharp shooters'.
Again...if the wildlife are not doing sever damage to the park, then there is no real need. But, again, be careful of those HOGS!!!!