Urge City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Say ‘No’ to Deer Massacre

Walter Mains | Wikimedia Commons

SOURCE: PETA

BACKGROUND

The City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is reportedly considering allowing bowhunters to kill deer in an attempt to reduce deer populations. Your voice is 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.

Please urge Cape Girardeau city officials to take bowhunting off the table—and then forward this alert widely! If deer control is insisted upon, please share these tips.


WHOM TO CONTACT

-The Honorable Harry D. Rediger, Mayor of the City of Cape Girardeau
-Cape Girardeau City Council

Copy and paste this list into your “To” field:

hrediger@cityofcapegirardeau.org; jvoss@cityofcapegirardeau.org; mproffer@cityofcapegirardeau.org; dtracy@cityofcapegirardeau.org; lschneider@cityofcapegirardeau.org; mlanzotti@cityofcapegirardeau.org; kswan@cityofcapegirardeau.org


SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Honorable Rediger and Cape Girardeau City Council Members,

It has come to my attention that the city of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is reportedly considering allowing bowhunters to kill deer in an attempt to reduce deer populations. Although this hunt are would be inherently cruel based on the premise alone, it is important to recognize it is based on erroneous information.

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

Third, this type of mass killing using such a brutal type of slaughter in such a central and visible location would certainly adversely affect both visitation and tourism; it would be financially detrimental to continue with such a cruel and unnecessary killing, and although I do not currently reside in Cape Girardeau, I would be unwilling to consider it, or nearby, as a potential vacation destination if this deer cull continues.

Fourth, bowhunters often spend hours following bloody tracks before finding wounded deer, if they look at all. Many deer 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.

Please instead examine alternative, non-lethal options such as fencing, fertility control, and relocation according to established protocols, which, when using these methods appropriately, have all proven successful in curtailing deer populations.  Please see these tips.

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

NAME

cape girardeau
just say no
this cruel hunting
of deer
has got to go!!!!

Karen Lyons Kalmenson