Let coyotes, not hunters, control Valley Forge deer, animal-rights advocates say

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 10/18/2010 | Jeff Gammage

[Kid Shelleen]

For months they've run on the periphery of the debate over the plan to shoot deer at Valley Forge national park:

Coyotes.

A small number have taken residence inside the park, among the "urban coyotes" that dwell in places from New York to Chicago to Beverly Hills, Calif.

Now, animal-rights advocates are arguing that the number of coyotes in Valley Forge should be encouraged to grow, as a way to provide a predatory check on the deer and eliminate any cause for gunfire

[maine-iac7]

I’m sure it’s possible for a pack of yotes to take down a deer, but I seriously doubt they an do it regularly enough to effect the overall population.

they've sure done it in my neck of the woods

[Vaquero]

delicious deer?

to hell with the bambi-fags...

[ConservativeWarrior]

If they don’t like gunfire ... invite bowhunters. Problem solved.

I'm in West Chester, PA, just 15 minutes from Valley Forge. They handle our deer issue with twice annual bow hunting. The meat is donated to local food pantries.

[maine-iac7]

A good shot of wasp spray in the eyes wouldn’t ‘disable”?

It ‘sprays’ a good stream a good distance - and if in the eyes - the ‘recipient’ isn’t going to be seeing for a bit - isn’t that what pepper spray does - but needs to have attacker closer and requires more precise aim?

as to other protection - like ‘arms’ - got it covered, like in “concealed” ;o) - but “don’t tell no one”

[maine-iac7]

I think you're probably right on the reasons it's so hard to find. It also shows the utter ineptness of gov’t programs. Like he needed cartons - like in 100’s - of light bulbs in the frozen Tundra rather than, say, beef jerky and coffee.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"The meat is donated to local food pantries."

Excellent. After I fill my freezers, I give away meat almost every year. Do they have to donate anything harvested in the bow hunt?

[ConservativeWarrior]

Excellent. After I fill my freezers, I give away meat almost every year. Do they have to donate anything harvested in the bow hunt?

Good on you. I don't think our hunters (harvesters) are required to donate the meat. I believe there's actually a free lottery to win participation in the hunt, and a "gentlemen's agreement" that the meat goes to charity.

Hunters get to hunt, the hungry get to eat. Win, win.

[fortheDeclaration]

It is far more humane to shoot the deer than to let the coyotes kill them.

Coyotes are a threat to all animals, including domestic.

[gwm55]

Anybody try to hunt coyotes? Is the meat any good?