Tell Dover, Massachusetts, to Scrap Cruel Bowhunting: Sample Letter

BACKGROUND | FROM PETA

Dover, Massachusetts, has approved cruel bowhunting of deer populations in a misguided attempt to reduce the risk of Lyme disease. Your voices are needed!

Bowhunting is among the cruelest forms of hunting. Bowhunters often spend hours following bloody tracks before finding wounded deer. Many are not found, and their deaths are slow and painful. It can take weeks for them to succumb to their injuries. Families are then torn apart, and young and weak animals starve or die of dehydration. Furthermore, studies have shown that killing deer has no effect on tick populations. Ticks can best be reduced by keeping vegetation trimmed back, removing wood piles, and refraining from feeding wildlife.

Please urge Dover officials to kill their bowhunting plans. If they insist on deer control, please share our tips (See below as well).

Please send polite comments to the contacts listed below.

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WHOM TO CONTACT

Email Block

selectmen@doverma.org
selectmen2@doverma.org
boh@doverma.org

Individual

David W. Ramsay
Town Administrator
selectmen@doverma.org

Board of Selectmen
selectmen2@doverma.org

Board of Health Lyme Disease Committee
boh@doverma.org

SAMPLE LETTER, PLEASE MODIFY, SHORTEN

Dear Administrator Ramsay and Board Members,

I have just learned that Dover, Massachusetts, has approved cruel bowhunting of deer populations in a misguided attempt to reduce the risk of Lyme disease. By recruiting bow-hunters using baiting tactics, you intend to decrease the deer population. Although this proposal is inherently cruel based on its premise alone, it is important to recognize it is based on erroneous information and according to human-orchestrated circumstances. As such, it is imperative that alternative, non-lethal methods be employed to amend the deer over-population as defined by biased homeowners and residents using propaganda, hysteria, grossly exaggerated and even false claims.

Please allow me to illustrate a few of these concerns. First, ecologically, populations will fluctuate according to conditions and naturally-occurring food sources; it is the interference of humans that causes imbalance. To blame and slaughter the deer for human encroachment is both irresponsible and unjustified. Second, the deer would not benefit physically as has been proposed; starvation typically occurs in later winter months, not in the fall.

Second, killing deer would artificially increase food supplies to the remaining deer, the consequence of which would be increased reproduction and an ensuing greater deer population. In fact, studies have demonstrated that the continual cycle of seasonal hunting is responsible for larger herd populations in subsequent years.

Third, studies have shown that killing deer has no effect on tick populations. Ticks can best be reduced by keeping vegetation trimmed back, removing wood piles, and refraining from feeding wildlife. Rumors of disease spread much faster than any realized and proven case; indeed, there is no evidence of disease outbreaks or increases of deer-related tick outbreaks.

This proposition is not factually justified. It is also not morally justified: animals are sentient creatures, capable of love, fear, pain, and suffering. As humans do, animals experience these emotions and have the desire to live free from exploitation and mass slaughter. I ask that you please consider your potential participation in this cruel plan. Please instead examine alternative options such as fencing, fertility control, and relocation according to established protocols when using these methods. As intelligent people capable of sound conclusions, you should recognize the importance of life over the lies and exaggerations of unscrupulous plans. Additionally, this type of mass killing in such a central and visible location would certainly adversely affect both visitation and tourism; it would be financially detrimental to move forward with such a cruel and unnecessary killing, and although I do not currently reside in Massachusetts I will be unwilling to consider it as a potential vacation destination if this deer cull transpires.

I know your time is limited and I want to thank you for your time and attention to this urgent matter.

Name

See More:

Deer Control In Urban Areas

If these so called sport hunters
Found themselves at
The wrong end of a bow
How would they feel
I think we all know

Hunter is international language for cruel a**hole

Karen Lyons Kalmenson