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Editor, News-Register:
Oglebay Park recently announced there will be a controlled hunt in the park to reduce the deer population. While this may seem drastic, hunting is the foundation of wildlife conservation in our country, and in this case, is the most viable option.
The deer living at Oglebay are overpopulated. This places intense competitive pressure on the deer, leaving them stressed and malnourished, and making them more susceptible to disease. Additionally, high deer densities create more opportunities for disease transmission. There are many diseases that could wreak havoc on these deer, but perhaps the most frightening is chronic wasting disease. CWD creates holes in the deer’s brain, degrading their neurological function. They often deteriorate to the point that they can’t feed properly, stumble and become emaciated. If CWD was to spread throughout the herd at Oglebay, it would have grave implications for the deer in the Northern Panhandle and the state.
The revenue generated by hunting helps fund wildlife agencies and furthers conservation efforts. All of the funds from hunting license and tag sales go the Division of Natural Resources, which uses this money to manage all wildlife species and habitats within West Virginia, not just game species.
In the U.S., wildlife is publicly owned, held in trust by the federal government, and managed by the states on the citizens’ behalf. As a result, no one entity owns wild animals; they do, however, control access by who they permit onto their land. This controlled hunt would increase access to the resource and create opportunities for people to obtain venison, which many people, including myself, rely on as part of their diet.
Safety measures have been outlined for the hunt that will minimize any concerns. Hunters are required to hunt from tree stands, which helps conceal hunters and ensure safety as all arrows point toward the ground. Additionally, deer must be taken within 25 yards, which helps ensure the shots taken are accurate and lethal.
A deer hit with a properly placed arrow will expire in seconds.
The proper way to view this hunt is not as a hunt, but as a management tool. The hunters who will participate are not doing so for sport, nor bloodlust. They are doing so because the population needs managing, and participating in this creates the opportunity to harvest venison and put Oglebay’s surplus of deer to good use.
Aldo Leopold once said, “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”
A controlled hunt is the option that would best preserve those qualities.
Hunting is the cornerstone of American wildlife conservation and allows community members a direct hand in conservation efforts.
Eli Henderson
Wheeling