Bambi debates!

Living in the upper Midwest, hunting is a big deal - in fact, a rite of passage - in most of the rural areas and small communities. Personally, I am completely aghast when a new initiative t... See More

Living in the upper Midwest, hunting is a big deal - in fact, a rite of passage - in most of the rural areas and small communities. Personally, I am completely aghast when a new initiative to hunt some small creature comes up in our state legislature (and most years, there is at least one bill). In fact, our legislators in recent years have considered opening a hunt on sandhill cranes, which until just a few years ago were at some risk of extinction. They did approve a hunting season on mourning doves - which have virtually no meat, and are not really prized for mounting - go figure! But there are good justifications for hunting. In our area, the abundance of deer causes significant crop and property damage, as well as being a hazard for drivers. Also, it is our lifestyle that has caused them to proliferate through the suburbs. It is a polarizing issue for many of us, and something we need to cover as we discuss the nature of communities and ecosystems, and how (even whether) they are managed. Providing a format for such a discussion may not resolve the issues, but it does provide a way to bring them to the forefront, and discuss in a rational manner.