Killing Bambi in Biltmore Forest

Editor, Asheville Global Report,

As you may know, the town of Biltmore Forest is planning on killing deer beginning Sept. 13. What’s worse is that they plan to do it with the barbaric method of bowhunting. An article from the Asheville Citizen-Times dated Aug. 29, 2000, spells out some of the details. The plan seems to have the unanimous support of the mayor and all three commissioners. The final vote will take place at their meeting at the Town Hall on September 12 at 5 pm. The public is welcome to come to the meeting, as well as to speak.

Also, please take a moment to contact the town officials and let them know how you feel. There are many alternatives available to them. One is to install reflectors on the roads, which have eliminated collisions between deer and autos by as much as 95% in some towns. I’m told they really work, and work great. People can also put repellents on their “precious” flowers (excuse my sarcasm). There are also birth control programs that have had some success, and the technology in this area is growing exponentially.

Finally, if they insist on killing them, they could use a method that would be quick and painless. Bowhunting is one of the cruelest forms of hunting because primitive archery equipment wounds more animals than it kills. Studies indicate that bowhunting yields more than a 50 percent crippling rate. For every animal dragged from the woods, at least one animal is left wounded to suffer, either to bleed to death or to become infested with parasites and diseases.

Thanks,
Stewart and Terri David