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Deer Management Comments

February, 25, 2014 12:03 PM
Please control the deer population in accokeek, Maryland!

Thanks
 
February, 25, 2014 12:02 PM
I heartily support all attempts of Prince George's County to reduce deer
populations.

One hundred and thirty residents in the Moyaone Reserve, adjacent to the
Piscataway Park, have safely and successfully operated a managed deer
hunt from 2007 to the present, covering approximately 650 acres. We have
used the Howard County guidelines modified for multiple properties.

Despite a sometimes vociferous 5% anti-managed hunt contingent that
engages in semi-illegal tactics to interrupt the hunt, we have managed
to reduce the deer population from 174 per square mile to approximately
60 per square mile pre-hunt (census numbers from the adjacent Piscataway
Park, provided by the National Park Service). So in fact, we've been
able to reduce the overwintering population to about 30 per square mile.

Not all residents in the community participate in the managed hunt, for
a variety of reasons. Many of those who don't participate appreciate the
results.

I look forward to the day that the county has enough resources to
replace our community's labor-intensive efforts.

 
February, 25, 2014 12:02 PM
Prince George’s County Park Management:




I am opposed to the deer management plan recently published that calls for lethal measures under the auspices of “deer population control.”




In this case, the county has adopted a knee-jerk, short-sighted plan that is a direct result of current land management policies and absolutley counters their mission as stewards of our environmental resources.




Instead of defaulting to this short-term solution for wildlife management, I would recommend a long-term plan that would include, among other things, the following policies:



•Protect and expand current wildlife corridors throughout the county. More areas of protected movement reduces human-deer contacts.
•Protect wetlands within the county against development, encroachment and pollutants. Among other crucial benefits to the environment, wetlands provide refuge and sustenance for wildlife and may keep them from traveling outside their territories for basic needs.
•No longer allow developers to clear-cut, prematurely in most cases, and completely in some cases, forested lands. Again, forested land provides basic needs for wildlife without having them over-extend their territories.
•Discontinue the removal/rezoning of lands from rural and agricultural tiers to developing tiers which increases human density in areas currently providing shelter, water and territory for wildlife.
•Recognize that policies that protect wildlife and their habitats protect our human population as well by preserving our water resources, providing a counter to climate change, and offering critical quality-of-life benefits that only natural areas can provide.

County council members and park management should reflect on who they are supposed to be representing and protecting, the developers and others who see only profit in our land and other finite resources, or the constituents who have elected them and placed some measure of trust in their determination to do what’s right now, and for the benefit of the future generations of Prince George’s county citizens.
 
February, 25, 2014 12:02 PM
Hello,


I enthusiastically endorse deer management in the county! Last year, deer ate over $200 of plants in my yard, and have been a large nuisance in our area. As I talk to neighbors, they discourage me from beautifying my yard because "it will all get eaten by deer, anyway." I'm not in a rural area, I live inside the beltway.

I agree thoroughly with all the policies and information presented on the Deer Management webpage. I feel that this is a wise use of taxpayer money, and I appreciate your practical approach to this problem. I appreciate the problem being addressed. Thank you, thank you. I know many people do not like the idea of shooting deer, but as you say, they have no predators, and that's not healthy.
 
February, 21, 2014 1:12 PM
Hello,
I would like to provide full authorization for any Park Police officers to remove deer from my property. My property is an “edge” habitat adjacent to the forested and unoccupied property of the historic Upper Notley Hall. Notley Hall is a manor house on several acres located between the River Bend (Rosier and River Bend Road) and River Bend Estates (Potomac Valley Drive and Bella Vista Terrace) neighborhoods. The forested area harbors an unsustainable number of deer that only survive by inundating the neighborhoods all day and night. I have counted 12 deer on my ½ acre lot on innumerable occasions. There are deer feces all over the yard, and they have decimated my landscape plants and carved hoof trails into my lawns. I am very concerned about vehicle collisions and Lyme disease. The deer are emboldened and frequently will stand their ground even when I run towards them making noise. I have tried all the sprays and powders and even deer netting on individual plants. My last option is to install unsightly 8 foot fencing around my entire yard which will ruin the visual integrity of our neighborhood. I even saw a young deer last month hobbling around my yard with an arrow sticking out of it’s flank! I believe some residents are employing their own drastic tactics! Please help reduce this unnatural population size in a safe and efficient manner.
 
February, 14, 2014 1:33 PM
Deer have over taken my neighborhood large herds of deer walk the streets of Lanham Lane, Payne, Allentown Road and Webster Lane. Herds are always in front and back yards when not in the streets. Help! Residents feel unsafe.
 
February, 4, 2014 7:27 AM
As far as I’m concerned, your police sharpshooters are welcome in Chestnut Hills Neighborhood Park, adjacent to my property.
While I haven’t seen any deer lately, sometimes a herd stays overnight, some members bedding down in my backyard and others in the park woods.
As I am sometimes briefly in my backyard or let my cat out after dark, I would like a heads up before any deer herd reduction in Chestnut Hills Neighborhood Park.
I grew up in Maine where, not infrequently, humans are shot by deer hunters.

In the past week or two, driving into the Beltsville Community Center, I had a close call with a deer crossing the road.
Go get em.
 
January, 31, 2014 3:37 PM
There are routinely 9-12 deer in Rock Creek Park directly behind the Ashleigh Woods Town Home complex each morning/evening. Will your deer management program be in effect sometime soon in this area to hopefully decrease the size of this herd?
 
January, 28, 2014 1:49 PM
Greetings,
I just read your deer management article announcing sharpshooting programs in PG County parks. I am supportive of these methods to help manage the deer population but would also ask that you consider leveraging Maryland's licensed hunters.

Several places in Maryland offer management hunts to a limited number of hunters, all of who must provide proof of Hunter Safety education as well as proficiency with hunting weapons such as archery gear or firearms. Speaking for myself, I would love a chance to extend my hunting season and help resolve the overpopulation problems at the same time.

Specifically, I ask that you consider the following method of incorporating hunters into your plans:

1. Limit hunter participation to those who use archery gear (including vertical bow and crossbow)...intent is to provide safety assurance to nearby residents who probably don't want non-law enforcement personnel using firearms near their homes

2. Require archery hunters to use tree stands from a height of at least 10 feet off the ground. This also increases safety because it forces hunters to shoot arrows on a downward angle and turns the ground into a natural backstop. I know of at least two areas that hold annual management hunts that use this requirement and it's very effective at limiting the distance that arrows will fly to about 50 yards or so (even shots that miss the deer).

3. Require hunters to cover harvested deer when removing them so that they are not visible to non-hunters. This is a concession to those who may not support hunting or removal of game animals and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center near Edgewater uses this policy for their management deer hunts.