Wisconsin man suspected of slaughtering 100 deer in 'thrill kill'

FOX News ^ | March 30, 2012 | Cristina Corbin

[End Times Sentinel]

A Wisconsin man, who along with his three friends is suspected of illegally slaughtering as many as 100 deer in what prosecutors call an unprecedented "thrill-kill" spree, faces up to six months in jail.

Nathan Blaha, 20, of Hillsboro, Wis., and his accomplices allegedly wandered the backroads of Richland County in a pickup truck, stunning deer with a light before shooting them and leaving their carcasses to rot in what he called a contest to “get the most deer,” according to court documents.

[Jeff Chandler]

So, just for argument’s sake, what sort of firearm do you think would best accomplish killing 100 deer in one session? I’m thinking AR-15. It fires a high velocity round, it has a good rate of fire, and you could have several magazines preloaded in case you run across a large herd.

I’m curious what other Freepers think about this, or maybe the subject deserves its own thread?

[Cailleach]

They never said who won the competition...

[smaug6]

You might get 2 per encounter. Ever shot at a group of deer. Once the first bullet flies all the rest is luck. They are agile and fast. Their senses are extraordinary and they are patient. Their lives are on the line you know. No way you could get a lot.

[Figment]

Two types of people will be up in arms about this. The Bambi crowd and the trophy hunters.I dislike the trophy hunters as much as the tree huggers for their smugness. Shoot some danged does a**holes. If you’re in in it for the meat, what do antlers matter?

[Balding_Eagle]

Well, considering people are everywhere, just where are deer supposed to live? Or have they lost the right to even exist and should be driven into extinction?

It's easy to see from how you formulated your question that even you realize you've lost the rational side of the argument and are now reduced to the emotional side.

That side doen't often win on FR, and it won't win this one either.

[dennisw]

Great photos of automobile-deer collisions. You can get killed ! Along with your vehicle.

[Balding_Eagle]

Nature eats every bit of the carcass. EVERY bit. Nothing is lost.

[End Times Sentinel]

I’m curious what other Freepers think about this

Hmph, good luck getting Freepers to weigh in about guns. Not gonna happen...

[Cicero]

Well, venison steak is an acquired taste, I think. But if you grind it up and spice it, it makes very good sausage. And certainly here in Vermont or in other deer-hunting areas there are plenty of people who would be glad to have some for the freezer.

I’m not sure what the rules are on commercial sales of deer. That may be one reason why it doesn’t normally get into groceries or supermarkets. But you can give it to your neighbors.

[RegulatorCountry]

I guess you’ll be fine with the coyotes the carcasses draw, as well as loose dogs dragging them into your yard, then.

Nature will take care of it, right?

[caveat emptor]

stunning deer with a light before shooting them is called pit-lamping where I live, and pit-lampers are not welcome locally.

There's usually a pretty good self-regulating balance between local cougars, wolves, and deer. Most people like it that way. Dogs caught chasing deer are shot. Wolves attacking dogs are shot. Cougars too occasionally if one is unable to look after itself and goes after livestock.

Doesn't work out perfectly, but the likes of the psychos in this article are not needed to correct any perceived in-balance, which of course is not why they did it.

[Balding_Eagle]

I was responding to your assertion that it’s not ‘honorable’ for humans not use the meat. I’m saying that other facets of nature rely on dead animals to live even more than we do.

BTW, leaving the gut’s etc. will draw as many preditors who will drag the stuff all around just like a full carcass.

I live in the country and am familiar with how wild animals treat other dead animals.

Shooting a 100 deer in one area in one night is a bit excessive, but is is a tiny start to solving a big problem, and should be encouraged.

[RegulatorCountry]

It’s lazy, disgusting and wrong.

[Jeff Chandler]

You might get 2 per encounter.

So what do you think would do the trick, fully auto? RPG?

[dangerdoc]

coordinated artillery or driving them off a cliff

[dangerdoc]

I pick up a hefty bag full of assorted bones out of the yard every spring. The dogs literally gain 10 pounds during deer season every year. A minor inconvenience.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Buzzards have to eat too.”

I agree (although, I wouldn't go so far as to endorse Tibetan sky burials) & they're more than welcome to the gut pile.

I'm also all in favour of thinning the N. American deer herd. However, this isn't the way to go about it. It only hurts the image of hunters. Such wanton slaughter also violates all principles of stewardship. No religion — and especially Christianity, would condone it.

There's probably no reason to force the hunting of does. Just raise bag limits, and remove restrictions against taking does. Otherwise, I agree with your point there.

[Jeff Chandler]

Do they stampede? I mean, could your stampede them over a cliff like bison?

[Jeff Chandler]

Would you really need artillery or would mortar fire do?

[Leaning Right]

There's usually a pretty good self-regulating balance between local cougars, wolves, and deer.

Unfortunately, that's no longer true in many parts of the country. In most wooded, semi-suburban areas there are no cougars or wolves, but plenty of deer. The self-regulation has broken down completely.