OPINION & EDITORIAL
Want to go green? Try deer hunting first
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Also by Nathan Braun:
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- Humans must evolve, realize climate change is real (October 4, 2007)
- Life after Bush: Holding candidates to a higher standard of rhetoric (September 20, 2007)
- Taxes cost-effective energy solution (September 12, 2007)
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- Madison just ensures fair trial for Vang (September 14, 2005)
- Bush's environmental policy misguided (October 14, 2002)
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by Nathan Braun
Thursday, November 15, 2007
This weekend, more than 600,000 people will take to the woods for the opening of Wisconsin’s annual deer gun hunting season, which is one of the largest in the nation.
Most hunters view deer season as a chance to enjoy the outdoors and put some food on the table. The attitudes of the rest of society range anywhere from bemusement to indifference to disgust. But the upcoming hunting season provides a chance to look at deer hunting and increasing deer populations as part of a broader discussion on environmental and economic issues.
The key underlying fact in this discussion is that the current whitetail deer population in Wisconsin is estimated at an all-time high of 1.8 million. This isn't just the most deer we've had in "modern," post-settlement times, it's the most deer we've ever had, period. It's not obvious at first why this might be a problem — in fact, it sounds rather like good news. With all this talk about climate change, oil spills and endangered species, at least we're doing something right — after all, more deer mean more nature, right?
Wrong. The current deer population is unnaturally high, mostly due to humans. Deer density increased dramatically with the decline of natural predators, including wolves, which were hunted to extinction in Wisconsin and have only recently returned in small numbers. In southern Wisconsin, urban sprawl and fragmented farmland and forests have increased deer populations. In the north, the logging of mature forests is doing the same thing, mostly because the stands of Aspen that pop up after logging provide ideal habitats for deer. These problems have been compounded with a recent string of mild winters, undoubtedly caused by climate change.
This is having a real impact on Wisconsin's natural environment. In many forests, trees are effectively not reproducing because deer gobble up seedlings before they can get established. In other places deer have put many wildflower species in danger of local extinction. The Ridges Wildlife Sanctuary in Door County has resorted to building metal cages around some of their rare varieties of orchids to prevent deer from wiping them out completely. Deer also have a more indirect effect on their surroundings. UW botany professor Don Waller points out that too many deer may have a cascading effect by tipping the balance in favor of some invasive plants which often have further detrimental effects on the environment.
An unnaturally high population isn't good for deer, either. It puts them at an increased risk of disease and also carries a potential for starvation.
Many people don't realize how serious of a problem this is. The increasing whitetail deer population might not inspire the same kind of feelings as climate change or the Charter Street Coal Plant, but it is really an environmental issue at heart. That's not to say there aren't economic impacts as well. According to the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance, collisions with deer cost Wisconsin motorists more than $160 million every year. The state spends more than $1.5 million each year reimbursing farmers for crop damage caused by deer, and most experts estimate actual damages go far beyond that.
In the long run, getting deer populations under control and at a healthy level will require continued efforts to encourage natural predators, as well as some fundamental changes in the way humans interact with the land. But in the short term, hunting is the most practical way of keeping deer populations in check and a way to reduce our impact on nature. In that way, hunting isn't all that different from recycling or driving a hybrid.
Like most other individual actions people can take to help the environment, hunting isn't done nearly enough. Wisconsin hunters harvest more than 500,000 deer each year, but the population is still about 50 percent higher than the goal set by the Department of Natural Resources. Part of the responsibility lies with hunters; many grumble about taking female deer, which is essential to controlling the population.
But current non-hunters can get involved by supporting hunting or even taking it up themselves. If the prospect of shooting deer with a high-powered rifle sounds a little intense, consider hunting with a bow and arrow. Anyone can bow hunt from September through November every year, often on public land. Even vegetarian environmentalists can get into the act thanks to recent and innovative programs like Hunt for the Hungry, which allow hunters to donate deer toward feeding low-income families and shelter residents.
Overpopulation and its impacts may not be the first issue that comes to mind when thinking about ways to help the environment. No one has ever won an Oscar or a Nobel Peace Prize for bringing attention to the issue. But it is an environmental issue nonetheless, and people shouldn't be afraid to do their part to fix it.
Nathan Braun (braun@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in economics.
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 9:04am):
Well said, Nathan. From one proud hunter to another, I hope that you have success hunting and that PETA doesn't come after you.
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 9:22am):
"with a recent string of mild winters, undoubtedly caused by climate change"
Undoubtedly?! Really, there is no doubt? You know there have been mild winters in Wisconsin before.
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 9:55am):
It was warmer a thousand years ago but the wolves just ate a few more deer then.
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 10:34am):
Great article Nathan. My grandpa and uncles lament the loss of their crops every year due to deer and the whole process of receiving compensation. Hunting is something they take pride in. To them, it's cleaner pesticide.
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 10:42am):
Not as many people hunt these days so the deer are overpopulating
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 12:13pm):
When are they going to start making Hybrid deer that are good for the environment?
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 12:29pm):
These days a lot of people "hunt" with their cars, and then don't even eat the meat. But the deer do have a chance to kill these "hunters".
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 2:50pm):
I thought those "hunters" were just in the woods drinking with their buddies and riding 4-wheelers? So, you're saying that there's killing involved too? Awesome!
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 3:09pm):
I don't know where you've been hanging out, but where I am originally from in Wisconsin, hunters leave behind their traditional empty Hamm's beer cans and Korbel brandy bottles.
And my grandfathers couldn't stand "deer hunters". I suppose to have a swell time, shooting a poor cow seemed like the thing to do.
Since no one in my rural Wisconsin family hunted except for a crazy uncle who should have had his guns taken away he was such a lunatic, what's one to do when they are caught trespassing?
Who knows how nuts they might be? In Marathon county, by the time the sheriff's office responded, they were gone, and besides, grampa didn't want to make trouble for someone who owned a gun.
Hunting is NOT a green activity. Bear in mind the expense of owning a rifle, buying all the hunting gear, gasoline expense, licenses, lodging, beer, brandy, etc., makes for some rather expensive meat. A very important aspect of being green includes making economic sense!
I certainly don't depend on some rootin' tootin' yahoo from Waukesha or where ever the hell these people come from to expect me to pat him on the back for killing, excuse me, harvesting a deer.
One more thing: if you don't want deer chewing on your crops, PUT UP A FENCE! It works.
Over and out.
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 4:07pm):
"A very important aspect of being green includes making economic sense!"
greenies don't care about economic sense
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 4:08pm):
Great article Nathan!! I have to say I have been hunting since I was, count it, SIX YEARS OLD!! Oh and to the comment above mine...one word, DUMBASS! You're view on hunting is very sterio-typical and you are obviously too ignorant like millions of other people to see the good in hunting.
Over and out. PS Deer can jump very high(over 8 ft)
Anonymous (November 15, 2007 @ 5:33pm):
Yeah, but you have to understand the deer overpopulation largely results from the efforts to manage the deer herd and provide a hunting season that attracts large numbers of sport hunters. If deer were hunted in a longer season (or year round, like the tribes used to) there would likely be far fewer deer. So, go out an get your deer, but don't pretend you're really doing much to solve the problem.
Anonymous (November 16, 2007 @ 7:36am):
To Anonymous at 4:08 pm:
1. Your timing is off to criticize the the guy from Marathon county. Someone got their message in ahead of you. HA!
2. Learn how to spell!
3. If you've seen a deer clear an eight foot obstacle of any kind, you've clearly had too much to drink. (after all, hunters would NEVER embellish their tales, right?)
4. Referring to someone as a dumbass indicates that you're in denial regarding your intellectual capacity.
Anonymous (November 16, 2007 @ 3:52pm):
@ Anonymous 7:36
Just from reading these posts.....
If you don't know a deer can clear an 8 foot fence then I doubt you're from 'rural' WI. You're "orginially from in wisconsin" as you put it... let me guess you were born here and moved at age 2. That doesn't mean you're from WI.
Your post is nothing but an Incoherent Rambling, what are you trying to say? Tie it all together man! Second it's a post on a news article who cares about spelling, that's what spell check is for nit wit. Anyone who has to correct anothers spelling is a pompus ass.....you stay losing.
Anonymous (November 17, 2007 @ 9:17pm):
Dude,
I think you got two different posters mixed up.
Anonymous (February 17, 2008 @ 7:55pm):
Gosh, if what is posted here is representative of on-topic, non offensive and not attacking one another...I can only imagine what the post looked like *before* editing.
To the poster who uses the term "greenies." Do you mean people who care about the earth? Are you using term as a pejorative (look it up)? If so, I am wondering exactly how you expect to live on the planet if people *don’t* care.
As far as the original suggestion that hunting is good for the environment, you need not worry. Nature has a way of dealing with overpopulation. We can be assured the deer population will eventually come back into balance, and so will humans.
Man was given the opportunity to live here, we were told to be good stewards. Those of us “greenies” who appreciate this fact will probably suffer the ramifications of greed, abuse, and plundering of our limited natural resources along with those who do not, but I for one, will sleep better knowing that I tried.
www.thestoryofstuff.com
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