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Deer wreaks havoc on Ellicott Street

By Howard B. Owens

A deer ran down Ellicott Street this evening, damaging the windows of two businesses before it was tracked to the end of Maple Street and dispatched by a Batavia police officer.

The deer first rammed a window of an office complex near Hutchins Street and then continued west before making a charge at the storefront of American Trust Gold & Coin Exchange at 239 Ellicott St.

Two residents of the building, Adam Ganzhorn and David King, tracked the animal to the end of Maple Street, at the industrial complex there, and a Batavia police officer killed it at that location. The six-point buck was tagged and Ganzhorn and King took possession of the animal.

Frank Bellucci and his son, from Short Notice handyman service, boarded up American Trust, which had its entire front window blown out, and expected to board up the other business as well.

Mary E DelPlato

so this poor thing who was scared was injured so much that it needed to be killed? who decided this and what makes them the expert? isnt animal control supposed to be called so they can assess the situation? they used to, they are better trained, they would humanely euthanize or put it back towards woods. poor thing didnt have a chance with ppl drooling at it,

Oct 22, 2012, 2:11pm Permalink
Billie Owens

Injured deer are routinely put down by law enforcement officers. It is humane, same as with an injured horse, as it "puts them out of their misery."

Oct 22, 2012, 2:23pm Permalink
Phil Ricci

How do we know the deer was scared? Maybe it was angry. It could be that it was tired of being oppressed, so it went out for revenge. Of course, it could just be that it was a rouge deer trying to steal some gold.

Also, ladies you don't know the full story here. That deer could have brandished a weapon. Then what I ask you? Should the officer not defend itself? For shame.

Oct 22, 2012, 2:37pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Another reason why hunting is an important thing in this day and age. When you see deer this far into urban setting this early it usually indicate that there is a large overpopulation in the local deer population. I dont mean to be mean or rude Mary but the attitude that you exemplified with your statement is why this becomes a problem. Just like when this site covers a trophy buck taken by a hunter or a young person taking thier first deer and a bunch of people have to diminish it by saying how cruel or why show animal corpses or any other generally disparaging remark.

Most people change their mind after having a deer come crashing thru a picture window or sliding glass door and make a bloody mess. Or you hit one at night while driving and lose your vehicle as well as watching the deer twitch and suffer until an officer comes to dispatch it.

I am not a hunter I dont have a desire to kill deer or other animals, but I can separate that from the realities of cause and effect. I dont try to force others or shame others into my way of thinking.

Oct 22, 2012, 6:00pm Permalink
Mary E DelPlato

hungry deer hunters do not want the population of deer down...thats a given fact...and its also a fact that when deer herds are reduced deer will compensate for that loss more than before...so the control that is supposedly happening is back firing. I dont hate the hunter I hate the act...it makes no sense...and some of the horror stories ive heard about this "sport" is enough to make me vomit because there are bad hunters who miss the mark and have to keep on shooting...then ya get a deer who im sure ran from the sound of gunshots very frightened because they do have a sense of fear unlike my teddy bear..getting corraled and bam! tagged for its dead body..

Oct 24, 2012, 9:05am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Really Mary where do you get your facts? I say that your facts are untrue, mostly by common sense but, I know alot of hunters and they do want a population of deer to many lead to smaller and more sickly deer, and the possiblilty of disease, they also reduce the habitat's cover and damage other hunting by overcrowding other species. Also when deer herds are reduced they will compensate? You mean they will breed more and get bigger? Well thats simply not true, in fact the opposite is true. The first hit I had on a quick web search said this....

Population Management: Because deer have a high reproductive potential and few natural predators, deer populations have the potential to increase rapidly. In the absence of significant mortality, deer populations can double in size in two years. High deer populations can significantly alter forested habitats reducing plant diversity and habitat suitability for other wildlife species. In addition, deer can impact flower and vegetable gardens, landscape plantings, and pose a threat to motorists.

You say you dont hate the hunter that you hate the act then proceed to bash hunters as triggerhappy bullies that run around the woods like cowboys shooting and herding the deer to slaughter them. As for deer running from gunfire from these cowboy hunters. Thats not the reason deer come into urban areas, they come for the lush lawns and the plants that people cultivate to beautify their yards and landscapes. Thats what ends up entrapping them in the urban neighborhoods. Maybe you have developed this stereotype by watching them celebrate afterwards in bars or cookouts and such but I can tell you thats not the way people hunt deer. Why dont you ask a hunter instead of forming opinions on assumptions and not facts.

Oct 24, 2012, 9:53am Permalink
Mary E DelPlato

It has been studied and documented that animals such as deer and coyotes increase thier breeding rates when under hunting pressure because after hunters kill x number of deer, the surviving deer have more food available and more breeding opportunities(since there is less competition from fewer deer). More food makes does stronger, and stronger does give birth to more fawns who will survive the season. University of Florida researchers have shown that deer reproduction increases in hunted herds.[Reproductive Dynamics among Disjunct White-tailed Deer Herds in Florida-Andreas R. Richter and Ronald F. Labisky. The Journal of Wildlife Management, Vol. 49, No. 4 (Oct.,1985), pp.964-971.
Wildlife Biologist Gary Alt said that State Wildlife agencies have responded to hunters who ask for more deer to kill, but the overpopulated deer herds have caused the forests to suffer (Central New York Outdoor Journal, December, 2005)
North American Hunter Magazine (Oct.1995) reports the experience of a former Texas biologist who "managed" deer on a ranch: "After shooting 100 does, the ranch had more fawns than it did the year before. Because of the significant doe harvest, the fawn survival rate increased from 25 percent(four does to reat one fawn to weaning age) to 120 percent(1.2 fawns per doe)
Since game agencies *want* overpopulation to the point where public complaints lead to little opposition on hunting, killing off more animals would be counterproductive. Game agencies are in the business because of the excise taxes placed on weapons, ammunition and hunting equipment. If wildlife populations are to low hunters get frustrated and drop out of the "sport". This hurts game agencies financially. To avoid that, their wildlife biologists design hunting seasons to keep overpopulation at a level that is just intolerable to cultural carrying capacity. This ensures that hunting "must" take place every season to address the complaining public. And there are many complaints.
How do I get my facts? I read.

Oct 28, 2012, 8:50pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Mary thats very nice that you read, however the climate, and even the deer are very different in Florida than in NY so your articles are invalid to discussion of hunting pressure. Funny the way you cite 2 items that comment on deer in florida and texas, but to make these facts SEEM legit you throw in an unrelated quote about CNY taken by itself it rather supporst my side of the argument rather than yours...

Wildlife Biologist Gary Alt said that State Wildlife agencies have responded to hunters who ask for more deer to kill, but the overpopulated deer herds have caused the forests to suffer (Central New York Outdoor Journal, December, 2005)

Oct 29, 2012, 8:57am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Reading is nice but you need to be able to make some discernment to what actually applies to the conversation. Not just pull facts because they fufill and support the agenda and intent of your comments.

Oct 29, 2012, 9:03am Permalink

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