Threat of Axis Deer on the Big Island

[Bob Orts]

quote:

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Originally posted by Rene Siracusa

Of course, you will have the PETA people crying about killing Bambi, but they offer no solutions. Perhaps, if you have to cave into them you could shoot the males with tranquilizer darts and use elastrator bands on them. This could be done very quickly in the field. Eventually, if not renewed from Maui, the population will die out or be hunted out. A gelded stag is probably more edible than one in rut.

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PETA's position is in support of the measure to prevent axis deer from coming into Hawaii County. They oppose the human transport of animals into non native areas where prey - predator does not naturally exist. Their opposition is based on the very thing being discussed that it would result in the unnatural killing of these animals for sport in the name of eradication or wildlife management. They generally oppose, on principal, hunting but if it is sanctioned as a means to prevent future killing, they usually stay out of the fray. I do not believe they would oppose government controls so long as the end result is to remove the next generation of deer that would be hunted for sport.