Hi folks,
Please check out my story today in the Indianapolis Star on the discussions over whether to conduct a deer-reduction hunt for the first time at Eagle Creek Park.

Please give it a read, a social media share and weigh in on what's shaping up to be an interesting debate.

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/...-deer-hunting-eagle-creek-park/12880245/

Thanks,
Ryan Sabalow
Indianapolis Star

This is a well written piece, it will be interesting to see how this debate shakes out. A quick drive through the park or walk down the trails leaves no doubt the understory is nearly gone and the park is in serious ecological trouble.

The data is crystal clear from a long history of park reductions, they are an effective and very safe deer management option.

I consciously couldn't hunt eagle creek, you can walk right up to a lot of those deer. Something needs done, but I couldn't hunt somewhat tame deer.

Good read though.

I seen a doe in there this early spring that was so malnourished, it was sickening. You could tell she was bred, and carrying at least one fawn. Looked like an olive with a toothpick stuck through it!!

These situations are when hunters need to step up and offer to solve the problem, agree to shoot the first deer and thereafter that walks by, not buck hunt and agree to whatever the rules and restrictions are. Actually, it would be real nice of an organization sent a full blown proposal to the Mayor, detailing the how a hunt would be completed and under what rules and such that the organization would propose. Even if that meant a proficiency test and if it's not firearms, it probably should be vertical bows and crossbows and it probably should include baited stations. Because it's really not intended to be a "hunt" but instead a cull.

I'll go stick as many as they wish. Someone's got to do it for the sake of nature.

They should also set up a deer drop-off, somewhere in the park, for donated deer on the way out.

Hunters will if given the chance. The many years of deer reductions within our State Parks are evidence of this. It won't cost taxpayers a dime either.

Bloomington, did you hear that? Not the $300K bill Bloomington taxpayers got saddled with.

I also think its a pretty well written article. I can appreciate a lot of the same things about the park that the non-hunters and animal rights activists do. I love driving through the park and seeing all the deer. I appreciate the beauty that these animals bring. The difference I see in the hunting community is the sense of responsibility to maintain the correct balance. It's unfortunate that some (the park neighbor for example) see hunters as blood thirsty people. I think the hunting community needs to do a better job of illustrating what our conservation efforts have produced. Most people have no idea that deer, turkeys, and many game were gone from Indiana. Hunters and conservationist have paid to bring back the herds. We pay for the biologist, the land in many cases, the game enforcement, additional species (game and non-game) reintroduction and management. We spend countless #'s of hours volunteering to improve the habitat. All the non-hunting community does is protest. If the Joel Kerr doesn't believe the report from the Purdue Biologist, why doesn't his group pay for a biologist to do a study? Why doesn't his group pay to count the deer if he wants a deer count? They don't pay for anything? They only want to protest what the hunters do.

Thats the way many felt about hunting Brown county SP the first time. Deer behavior adapts quickly.

Don't think of it as real hunt but a much needed thinning of the herd which will benefit everything.

This would be a great opportunity for sportsmen to propose that a cull hunt is done and ALL deer are donated to feed the needy, no antlers are taken, no pictures.

Then let the anti's argue why this is wrong.....

Work with Archers for a "cut and grind" price and find the funding for butchering.

Someone want to step up and lead the project? I'm sure the IDHA has some resources.......

Love the idea of no antlers or pictures taken.

It amazes me that people think we are blood thirsty? We are willing to help with the problem at 0 cost. In fact it costs us more than the average joe to go in there. I dont know about you guys but everytime i shoot at a deer its about 30 bucks flying towards it! Not to mention the bow, the stand, the essentials, and the gas to get there. Well I guess its a city park anyway, so let the tax payers of Marion County pay for it. Good luck with that.

To do away with the bloodthirsty image we must be careful what we post"""" I'll go stick as many as they wish""""

^ this

These are the same people who see no issue with the deer destroying the ecosystem of the parks, over populating, living in a malnourished state, and ultimately some dying of starvation.

Their arguments are supported solely by their emotions not in science or reason.

I've always said let a person see a deer starve to death and it will change their views a little.

They aare not tame. Thats just plain and simply not true. Should be run as any other archery hunt or park hunt except have three two day hunts the first year. Keep what you shoot and donate what you wish.

People have protested before and they will protest again over any number of issues. The park reduction hunts simply work at near zero tax dollars.

To me its as much a fiscal responsibility issue as it is a "hunting" issue.

Traditionalarcher17 doesn't want to hunt - fine
So and so wants to donate - fine

There will be a long line of responsible hunters willing to hunt.

I'm not proposing this idea as a solution per se' however heres an idea thats a fiscally responsible option. Have draw hunt with a 100$ fee attached to hunt it for two days but keep the number of hunters at around 1 per 25-30 acres. Replicate this 3 times the first year.
3900 wooded acres at 30 acres per hunter equals 13,000$ earned per hunt or 39,000$ over the three hunts. In turn use this money towards rebuilding the undergrowth that has been damaged. Make it an earn a buck hunting situation and I guarantee you'd have all three hunts filled and A LOT of does killed.

Try responding to this without "hunting is for the rich" or some nonsense. I propose it as an option that I think would probably have enough takers to make it robustly successful and I propose it as a conversation...

I disagree with one thing you said. I believe hunters should be able to keep the deer if they chose. Personally if I was to participate and kill the animal I want the meat. I do not want to be labeled as "some bloodthirsty hunter" who just wants to kill. With the price of meat today I want some venison in the freezer.

I cringed when I read that too. Seriously, why would you say that?

I would support this as well.

My wife runs a food pantry and can't keep venison in the freezer so this might be an option for donation.

With the price of beef today, people love to get venison.

You know I'm willing to help with the reduction hunt now, don't you? Some expressed they wouldn't want to... you know where I stand.
And if you know ME at all, even if only through this site... you KNOW I'm not a bloodthirsty hunter at all. Look back at all the awesome wildlife pictures I've posted over the years, of MANY deer in bow range.... that I let walk!

Anyhoo, what I find ironic, is that you guys say you dislike my comment so much... but you KEEP reposting it over and over?!? Brilliant

Not likely that there are a lot of anti's watching this site anyhow.

I live across from the park. We get lots of deer in our yard every year. The Park Foundation has been trying for at least 10 years to get a bow hunt in there. I don't see it happening as most folks love the deer they see in that park and until a large die off occurs they won't listen to the biologists. None of my neighbors would allow such a hunt and the park will have to get permission from all the surrounding homes to make this happen. Remember this is a City park not subject to state DNR.

How many get plastered on 465, 65, or 56th street each year?

It is rare to go through there at dusk and not see deer from the road.

The park is surrounded on 3 sides by major roads, it seems the only predator they have (or might ever have) are the semis and cars.

I am sure you understand the situation better than any of us. With so many years and never a hunt there, it seems unlikely one would ever happen.

I'd shoot a couple deer in there if they asked really nice I live on the Southside and work in Zionsville so drive by there twice each work day. Sure would be an efficient way to gather some meat. I really doubt it will ever happen though. It would be nice to see a little undergrowth back in that park.