Editor, Smithfield Times

A six-year investigation that compiled documents from Rutgers University, the Dept. of Agriculture, The Division of Fish and Game Council, New Jersey Audubon Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services has debunked the myth that deer hunting is for population control. I have repeatedly said this for years.

The DFW’s consecutive annual reports, 2008-2014, showed consistently the 58-59 percent of the deer management zones were managed for deer population increase and stabilization, not reduction.”

Other documents showed that farmers were applying for increased deer depredation permits in DMZ’s that are managed for an increase in deer population. Deer-preferred food is planted in Wildlife Management Areas and ensures deer health, weight gain and the ability to reproduce at a peak capacity, which exposes a hidden objective to increase deer for the gun!

Deer and other wildlife are a publicly owned resource and the basic requirement is that they be managed for the public benefit. Clearly, covert management of deer for shootable surplus for hunters is not for the public benefit, rather its detriment.

It is past time to end the slaughter of everyone’s wildlife by interest groups like hunters who only shoot and kill for “sport” and a sick sense of “fun.” Let us finally become real protectors of our earth and it’s wildlife. This is our only home and it belongs to all the living creatures as well. Life does not revolve around human beings.  We are just a flyspeck in the grand scheme of things!

Linda Gould Steffey
Smithfield