I think the letter “Hunting in Pittsburgh parks” (Sept. 17, TribLIVE) is a bunch of made-up numbers. Lowering the deer population definitely lowers Lyme disease prevalence. There is no real research on how hunting kills show terrible suffering. I’ve killed deer with a bow and have had them drop on the spot. The cutting distance on a broadhead creates a 2- to 2.5-inch hole in an animal that results in a really fast death when it goes in the heart or lungs. I’ve seen deer that got hit by a car and they lay down and suffer for a long time. Most bow hunters are using crossbows to hunt with, and they are really easy to shoot.
The writer also said let nature run its course and the numbers will naturally reduce. They may drop, but only after deer are starving to death and/or disease sets in.
He used the word studies, but didn’t name one, probably because he is against the great sport of bow hunting.
If you are for the humane culling of these beautiful animals, call the mayor’s office and let them know that this is awesome. The writer is correct about not wanting to see innocent animals suffer on the park trails, so reduce the numbers before we have a bunch of sick animals starving and dying. There is not going to be one person using this as justification for rogue hunting elsewhere; those idiots are going to do it anyway.
Bryan Uncapher
Mt. Pleasant