Another wonderfull Idea from Michigan.....Rochester Hills

[mag30079]

ROCHESTER HILLS -- The Rochester Hills City Council approved a plan to dispatch
sheriff's snipers this winter to help reduce the city's deer population, Mike
Hartner, director of parks and forestry, said.

On Monday night, the City Council voted 5-2 in favor of the cost-free plan that
has drawn vocal opposition from some residents.

The city has over the past year considered ways to reduce its deer population,
now out of control at an estimated 1,000 to 1,500. The community ranks first in
deer crashes in southeastern Michigan.

Once permits are issued by the state's Department of Natural Resources, snipers
from the Oakland County Sherriff's Office would be allowed to cull up to 200
deer, most likely in January and February.

Snipers will be dispatched only at night, and with night scopes and silencers.
They will be instructed to shoot from elevated locations and only still deer.

The city plans to ramp up educational programs on how to avoid deer crashes.
Officials are also working with the Oakland County Road Commission to improve
signage on roads that log the most deer collisions.

And after they take out 15 or 20 drunks and horny teenagers, they may just
consider extending deer season...

 
 

 

[mag30079]

I swear this isn't fair. We spend countless hours and money on this sport we all love, and snipers are the answer??? Give me a break, I would pay and or take any saftey test to get the chance to hunt this area.

[paulie]

Cost free? So am I to understand that these "snipers" wont be getting payed their normal wage, or overtime? If indeed they do get payed, then it's not exactly "cost free" now is it! If they were to hold a "special" hunt for these deer that have "overrun" the city, they could bring in some extra revenue! They did the same thing in Kensington metro park a few years back, they paid "sharpshooters" to come in and kill somewhere in the neighberhood of five hundred deer.

[mag30079]

Paulie,
I remember hearing about Kensington. You having any luck out in Gregory? I've bow hunted Gregory back in 2006 a few spots off of Spears road on state land. Man you guys got alot of turkeys out in Gregory.

[paulie]

I passed on a few young bucks during bow season, havent really seen much since firearm opened, mostly fawns(no mamma's).  Yeah, there a lot of turkey out here, I've been out here for almost ten years and, it seems like I see more(turkey) each year! I have never hunted turkey before, but I'm surely gonna give it a try next spring(provided I get a tag). Hey, good luck to ya!!

[drdaven]

Has anyone ever truly defined the term "sharp shooter or sniper" as it applies to the sheriff dept? 
As Paulie says...."FREE??"  Just who is supplying the sniper rifles?  If these guys are not just a sheriff deputy, then they are part of a special forces unit.  I tend to think that these guys and gals would cost the city just a few extra bucks. 
Plus, they are only shooting at night from elevated positions?  Are they setting up treestands?  Midnight shift usually gets premium $$. They shoot at night  with silencers so the public doesn't have to watch the slaughter or hear it. 
Don't they know that bowhunting is also silent. 
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!  The whole thing just ticks me off.  Have hunters pass a proficiency test with their bows and set up a lottery draw to allow them to reduce the herd over time, all the while generating a few "bucks" for the city.
Just my thoughts!