The tone and misinformation contained in Janet and Joe Williamson’s letter to the editor is very upsetting to me and I am sure many other Town & Country residents (Relocate the complainers August 28, 2008.)  The Williamsons are strong advocates of killing the deer in Town and Country and against using any other means to solve our City’s deer management problem. These residents are currently using the captive bolt method to kill deer on their property.

Information on the In Defense of Animals (IDA) web-site paints a pretty grim picture of the use of this method to kill deer.  The captive bolt gun is designed to stun animals before slaughter by firing a several-inch-long retractable steel rod into the center of the head. It was intended specifically for use in slaughterhouses under very controlled conditions and even in this controlled environment there are problems.  

Using captive bolt guns on deer causes even more problems because these wild animals are strong, heavy, and prone to panic, and therefore virtually impossible to completely immobilize, even under collapsible clover traps that cover their entire bodies. If a deer moves even the slightest bit, the bolt can be easily misfired into her eye socket, jaw, ear, or nose, causing excruciating pain and the need for multiple shots before she is finally dead. 

The trap-and-bolt method of “wildlife management” is so cruel that only a handful of U.S. cities have tried it.”   Although approved by the Missouri Department of Conservation an independent statistically valid survey conducted in Town & Country indicated that the use of the captive bolt was rejected by wide margins.

I attended the expert forum where experts in the lethal and non lethal methods presented factual information on the pros and cons of sterilization, sharp shooting, bow and arrow hunting, and captive bolt.  The information in the Williamson’s letter overstates the cost of sterilization and does not accurately depict the feasibility of using this method that was provided by the outside expert.

The fact that our city would be pioneers in using this method for managing deer is not a bad thing.  We wouldn’t have a city if long ago pioneers hadn’t chosen this site to build homes.  Information on the City’s relocation program is inaccurate. 

The number of deer dying the first year is substantially overstated.  At the expert’s forum, representatives of the Missouri Department of Conversation said their reason for withdrawing the relocation permit was based on the potential of spreading Chronic Wasting Disease although they admit there has never been a reported case of this disease.  I question the accuracy of the statement that 50 deer are killed in Town and Country annually.

Lastly, their statement that Town and Country would be better off if residents opposed to killing deer relocate themselves is extremely offensive. Many in this group have lived here far longer than the Williamson’s and do support controlling the deer just not by lethal methods.  Anyone moving to this city should have known this area is wildlife friendly just by the name.  Perhaps a name change is in order if residents only interested in killing the deer prevail.

A good choice might be Welcome to Town and Kill the Deer Country.   I am sure others reading these letters must be astonished that the major issue of so many residents in this community of large expensive homes, acreage, privilege, and wealth is deer eating their hostas.  Especially in these troubling times.Mary McDavid

Town & Country