Very informative article.

quote:

After nearly wiping out many wildlife species 50 years ago, Americans are once again living close--sometimes uncomfortably so--to all kinds of feral creatures. Why wildlife in the U.S. needs stronger management

See the full-size image here:
Beasts on the Rise: 10 animals that have made a roaring comeback


Full article is here (need an account):
America's Pest Problem: It's Time to Cull the Herd - TIME Magazine

I think the 50 year figure is way short.

The over-abundance ( in some regions) of wildlife/feral life may explain, in part, why many surveys report that the majority of Americans are not opposed to hunting...

quote:

I think the 50 year figure is way short.

That may be the case where you and some other folks live but from personal experience that 50 year estimate nails it pretty accurately in
the part of Texas I am most familiar with.

I was born and raised and have spent the majority of my life in the Archer/Young county area. I am 63 and can easily remember when seeing a deer in this area was an event and there were no feral hogs at all. One thing we did have in abundance were jackrabbits and bob white quail, even had a pretty fair population of blue or scaled quail in most of Archer county. Now we rarely ever see a jackrabbit, bob whites are barely hanging on and no one I have talked to has seen or heard a blue quail in 10 years or so.

I didn't read the article since I don't have or want an account with the liberal Times magazine. In my area, suburban Philadelphia, there are a lot of deer and geese in parks, suburban areas etc. that are off limits to hunting. Parks are by gov't. decree. There are many areas where hunting is allowed, but it's almost impossible to get permission from landowners to hunt.

I can't tell you how many times I've had people complain to me about the damage deer do on their property, but when I ask if I could hunt with archery equipment only the answer is always "we don't allow hunting on our property".

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:

I can't tell you how many times I've had people complain to me about the damage deer do on their property, but when I ask if I could hunt with archery equipment only the answer is always "we don't allow hunting on our property".

Having grown-up in CA I have run into the same thing countless times.

so, the yuppies do not want the deer eating their home depot/lowes vegetation, but do not want the eaters killed ! AND the luppies want and pay thru the nose for 'certified organic meat' from a totals stranger! SFB 0bama supporters !

Right , don't permit normal hunting but because of the vehicle/deer contact twice the state rates, they hire 'professional hunters'.
Gov't agencies do it too.
Logic and reason are extinct !

quote:

Originally posted by mete:
Right , don't permit normal hunting but because of the vehicle/deer contact twice the state rates, they hire 'professional hunters'.
Gov't agencies do it too.
Logic and reason are extinct !

That's because the European, African models have work so well. /S

As it been shown only highly trained government employees are capable of killing surplus animals. /S

The anti hunting agenda is also part of the anti firearm agenda.

If we allow people to hunt one has to allow them to own firearms. If government employees are only allow to hunt.

Then we can keep up the notion that only the government should or be allowed firearms.

what is so different about this issue than any other; their attitude is almost one of if you gotta "take care" of the problem just don't do it in front of us and don't call it "hunting" because that is mean and we love bambi.

but on saturday night they will patronize retaurants who participate in the meat industry. some 'splain it to me. i'm a little dense i guess.

One concept people need to give a moments thought about concerning the use of paid government culling officers to kill the animals versus allowing "SPORT" hunters to handle the problem, revolves completely around the word "SPORT". A "SPORT" is an activity people enjoy and "COMPETE" in.

It is the twisted idea in a segment of the populations psyche that Enjoying killing something and Competing against other humans to kill something is wrong.

Those folks believe that paid government culling officers simply view it as a job and get no enjoyment or self gratification out of the activity, it is just a job they are hired to do.

Some how it seems to be equated that if a person wants to do something, appears to enjoy the prospects of doing that thing, and is more than willing to pay to do that thing, then it is wrong and those people are sick.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
I didn't read the article since I don't have or want an account with the liberal Times magazine. In my area, suburban Philadelphia, there are a lot of deer and geese in parks, suburban areas etc. that are off limits to hunting. Parks are by gov't. decree. There are many areas where hunting is allowed, but it's almost impossible to get permission from landowners to hunt.

I can't tell you how many times I've had people complain to me about the damage deer do on their property, but when I ask if I could hunt with archery equipment only the answer is always "we don't allow hunting on our property".

Exactly. We don't live that far apart and this area holds a very large deer population. I've been trying hard to increase my hunting area but, people don't want to give permission but, I'll constantly hear about the damage being done to their shrubs and flowers, car damage, etc.