Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 16:19:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Happy Hunter
Subject: Urban Archery Season
The Urban Archery Season was a program created a couple of years ago by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission in response to a severe deer herd overpopulation issue that some areas of NC are currently dealing with. This overpopulation is a result of many factors, including but not limited to a lack of natural predators (although coyotes are increasing to fill that gap); an abundance of food created by agriculture, the conversion of forest land to residential (better eats in your flower patch than in the deep woods); a limited number of hunters and a focus by some hunters to hunting only bucks; and misguided “deer lovers” that feed corn or other feed to the wildlife, establishing an unnatural dependence.
Nature tends to be self-regulating. If we do not harvest the deer (and might I remind you that this is “free range” protein, no additives, low fat, and low cost) we will reach a breaking point where the deer herd will decline suddenly via disease. That would be a real shame.
The Urban Archery program just allows people to hunt on their own property, or on property they have the owner’s written permission to hunt, within the town limits. No one is going to come hunt your land without your permission… they risk arrest if they do.
As I said, this is a fairly new program in NC, but many towns are opting in to it. Why not? I am a meat eater by choice, and I have deer that visit my backyard, and I have a bow and know how to use it. I currently hunt a piece of farmland that I lease, but my backyard is closer, and cheaper. As it is, about half the protein I eat is venison, thanks in part to the abundance of deer in the area. In Chatham County, a hunter can take 4 antlerless deer, and 2 “hunter’s choice” (meaning antlered or antlerless), and then ask for and fill as many Bonus Antlerless Deer Cards (permits to harvest additional antlerless deer) as they want.
Archers typically hunt from an elevated position… up a tree in a treestand, for example, to get the human scent out of the deer’s path. Because you are shooting at a downward angle, an off-the-mark arrow will end up stuck in the ground behind or in front of its intended target, not flying through the air, over the fence, and into the neighbor’s cockapoo. So you can put those fears to rest. A decent archer living within the town limits can now fill his (or her) freezer and feed their family for very little cash outlay, without having to secure a hunting lease, or hunting the state lands. Why would you deny them that opportunity?
Now, I can understand someones desire to NOT eat meat. I won’t stand in their way or force feed them venison backstrap. But I expect the same respect from them, though.
I applaud this program, and hope it feeds many people.