Deer Breeders, Privatizing Wildlife Draw Criticism from B&C

Once a wild game animal, now a product of commercialism and chemistry.

Today's upward trend in deer (and elk) breeding and shooting operations is reaching critical mass, compromising traditional hunting and conservation, and fueling a strong new response from America's first conservation and hunter advocacy organization, the Boone and Crockett Club.

The Club today published a new position statement outlining its concerns.

"We encourage every hunter to read this position in its entirety," said Morrie Stevens Sr., president of the Club. "The core topic - privatizing a public resource for individual profits - has the power to change the foundations of hunting and its historic ties to conservation. And crossing the line from wildlife to agricultural commodity represents a fundamental shift in American culture. We think the ramifications are worth considering carefully."

The position statement also addresses:

• Selective breeding, artificial insemination, regimented feeding and pharmaceutical drugs to achieve unnaturally large antlers in deer and elk.
• Commercial values based on artificial trophy size.
• Ethics of altering native wildlife and then shooting these animals in escape-proof, fenced enclosures.
• Breeding operations' potential for transmitting diseases to wild herds.
• Risk of weakened public support for hunting. In a democracy, hunting exists only at the pleasure of voters. Hunting's public image matters more than ever.

To read the Boone and Crockett Club's full position statement, click here.

Other Related Articles:

http://www.cleveland.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2014/12/holmes_county_deer_hunting_pre.html#incart_river

http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/459953

http://www.petersenshunting.com/deer/deer-farms-huntings-ticking-time-bomb/

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/07/14/missouri-veto-resonates-captive-deer-hunting-industry/12548493/

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/06/10/lawmakers-call-usda-get-tough-trophy-deer-industry/10290103/

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2014/03/27/buck-fever-chapter-four/6867811/

http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/big-buck-zone/2012/08/missouri-stops-issuing-deer-breeder-permits-following-cwd-outbreak

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/mo-conservation-department-endorses-stricter-deer-breeding-rules/article_ebda5763-5f35-5624-bf66-163924f0fc61.html

http://guide.sportsmansguide.com/captive-deer-industry-scrutiny/

http://www.skinnymoose.com/moosedroppings/2011/09/21/nc-wildlife-officers-seize-and-destroy-illegal-captive-deer/

http://www.peer.state.ms.us/reports/rpt570.pdf