Deer culling at Gettysburg National Military Park will resume in October as officials work to tamp down the herds so vegetation has a better chance to grow.
Culling, by sharpshooters, also will take place at Eisenhower National Historic Site.
In response to an outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease in Adams County, Pennsylvania, last October, the Park Service made immediate changes to its deer management program. The NPS and state staff cooperatively tested all deer taken through the program for the presence of the disease. All deer tested negative for CWD. Once deer had tested negative, venison was distributed to local food banks, including the Adams County South Central Community Action Program and the Maryland Food Bank.
Testing of all deer taken through the program will continue this year. All venison from deer that test negative for the disease will once again be donated to area food banks.
It is important to note that no CWD has been found in wild deer populations in Pennsylvania or at Gettysburg NMP and Eisenhower NHS, a park release noted. While there is no current evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans, this question is an ongoing area of research and the Park Service will take a cautious and careful approach to donation of meat until surveillance testing results indicate a high level of confidence that CWD does not exist in the local deer population.
“We continue to manage white-tailed deer at Gettysburg and Eisenhower parks in order to control the damage they do to historic woodlots and farm fields,” said Superintendent Bob Kirby.
An important purpose of managing the deer population is supporting forest regeneration in historic woodlots that played a role in the fighting of the Battle of Gettysburg. The management programs also provides for the long-term protection, conservation and restoration of native species and cultural landscapes. Hunting is not permitted inside the two parks--only qualified federal employees take part in the efforts to reduce the herd.
In 1995, an Environmental Impact Statement described and considered a variety of options for meeting park objectives for deer management, including public hunting, relocation, and the use of sterilization and contraception. Hundreds of people participated in the public review of the EIS and many commented on it in writing. The NPS decided to reduce the number of deer in the parks through shooting.
The deer management program will continue through the end of March, and continue each year as necessary. A deer reduction community safety committee is consulted on matters of public safety related to the program.
In addition to monitoring the deer population each spring, the park does long-term forest monitoring to help assess the program and set deer management goals.
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Comments
theschwarz1 on September 23, 2013 - 8:10am observed:
As you note further into the comment, this has been a widespread problem, with government services horning in on functional & effective businesses. This problem has been 'called out', for quite a few years now, and in a lot of cases the improper government competition has had to cease.
This is obviously one of those cases, at Gettysburg. We did see, that they considered private hunting, but it was rejected. Presumably, bidding the job out also fell under the same process, and again was given a look, and dismissed.
The USDA does a serious pile of pest-eradication. Some of it no doubt ought to be privatized. But they do have a long history ... killing something 100,000 coyotes a year, eg. Now of course, they want to tell us that this is like picking lettuce, that only the solution they favor can deliver the goods.
But basically, there appears to be good evidence that we're on the backside/downhill part of the curve, with this taxpayer-funded competition problem. I'm hopeful that this example of it, too, will soon be dismantled.
Guns and hunting are two separate issues (not all who carry guns are hunters). Additionally, many NPS areas allowed hunting before the change in gun laws (about 70 ). And, to be exact, the law to allow firearms in National Parks was to "protect americans from violent crime" and had no relation to hunting nor did it change any hunting laws.
I don't understand your statement re: "it is the States who "own" the wildlife/game, and are the managing authority." Could you please explain?
Yes ... there is a formal/legal way to cite or reference this, but I have to leave soon and will just explain informally, for now.
Generally, in the US, as we know, powers & authority not specifically vested in the Federal government, belong to the States, automatically. Whatever it is. If it's not spelled out as belonging to the Fed, it belongs to the State. Basic principle.
Confusion arises sometimes, when folks accidentally hit & kill a deer on the road, or shoot a predator that is a danger. They sometimes try to 'do the right thing', once they have a carcass on their hands ... essentially acting like it's theirs. Rangers & state authorities then shake their head, and explain; "No, all the animals belong to the State, until one is duly conveyed to you, like when you hunt with a license & tag. Until the State says it's yours, it's the State's."
Taking a deer home, that you hit on the road, is like hitting a big aluminum road-sign, busting it off .... and then shrugging and loading it in the back of the truck & taking it home to salvage. Nope. Broken or dead - it's still State Property.
All those deer in Pennsylvania, belong to Pennsylvania. And they also possess or hold or own the official, legal authority to Manage and Regulate game, throughout the State. Just as the State owns & holds other resources, and powers.
Archery.
Culling at night or closed park and staff doing the culling is fine, though.