Originally posted by antlerhunter: [b] If there is a real problem, let the state dept of fish and wildlife go in there and take care of the problem in one or two weekends by hiring professionals to do this. If the herd needs to be drastically cut, bow hunters of any degree of expertise will not be effective in reducing the population to healthy levels. It seems to me that BHA has just stepped in to get membership numbers up. I know nothing about BHA, but just because I'm not a member, I don't think I should be considered a walmart hunter. I have had no problems in harvesting deer in the past, and with no help of a card that I carry to make me a more efficient hunter based on the article about BHA. They will screen all of the members and pick their buddies, it is as simple as money and politics, and we the citizens of the state of Alabama have let this org. come in and walk all over us hunters that pay for our licenses every year. Give the conservation dept bullets, rifles and spotlights and let them take care of the problem. That is the only way to remove the numbers of deer they needing to.
So you would rather see someone go in there and spotlight deer with high powered rifles than someone who really enjoys to be in the woods and do it the right way? boy you sound like a real hunter to me. We as hunters should be happy that someone gets to hunt a piece of land no matter what type of land it is than hiring "professionals" :rolleyes: to go in there and poach them. [/b]
I think Antlerhunter has a point - and some of you are missing it. The reason for the hunt is not to open up a pristine area to Alabama bowhunters. The point is to reduce the population of the deer in the park to a level that can be sustained by the resources in the park. And anybody that says bowhunters can have a noticeable impact on an overpopulated herd probably know they are lying to you and to themselves.
If it really is about population reduction, hunters should only be able to kill does since that will have the greatest impact on the current and future population. Further this will prevent a hunter from holding out for a buck.
"Any way you look at it, most of the problems facing baboons can be expressed in two words: other baboons" - D.L. Cheney and R.M. Seyfarth
