- 24,840
- 247
I had to run to town around lunch time to get some rebar for snare stakes. While I was in town I stopped in our pizza shop to check things out. One of the first farmers I met after moving to this area was sitting in the dining room having lunch. He is one of the fellas I gun hunted with back in 94, and was widely respected as "the guy" that always kills "the big one". I have seen a collection of the deer he has killed over the years, and it is impressive! Anyway, being a rather large grain farmer and deer hunter, it seemed he would be a good one to ask a few questions of.
I asked him if he knew we had the largest estimated deer herd ever in Ohio. His reply;" I don't know about the rest of the state, but we sure as h**l don't have 'em here anymore!"
I asked if he had ever heard of the "Farmer Attitude Survey". His reply; " Nope, what's that?"
I asked if he had complained about crop damage from deer. His reply; "Deer have never damaged my corn. Squirrels and coons tear the sh*t out of it, but not deer" "I've heard others say deer damage corn, just never seen it".
I asked if he knew the DOW was pointing the finger at the farming community for intentionally lowering the deer herd (though they claim the highest estimated population ever). His reply; "They can't blame me. I've been shooting every coyote I see and not shooting does for years. In fact this spring while cutting hay, I jumped up two little fawns. A coyote saw them and started across the field after them. I quit cutting and got the tractor between the coyote and the fawns. Wish I'd have had a rifle".
Who are these "farmers" that are demanding we keep killing all the deer? They sure as heck don't live or farm around me!
I asked him if he knew we had the largest estimated deer herd ever in Ohio. His reply;" I don't know about the rest of the state, but we sure as h**l don't have 'em here anymore!"
I asked if he had ever heard of the "Farmer Attitude Survey". His reply; " Nope, what's that?"
I asked if he had complained about crop damage from deer. His reply; "Deer have never damaged my corn. Squirrels and coons tear the sh*t out of it, but not deer" "I've heard others say deer damage corn, just never seen it".
I asked if he knew the DOW was pointing the finger at the farming community for intentionally lowering the deer herd (though they claim the highest estimated population ever). His reply; "They can't blame me. I've been shooting every coyote I see and not shooting does for years. In fact this spring while cutting hay, I jumped up two little fawns. A coyote saw them and started across the field after them. I quit cutting and got the tractor between the coyote and the fawns. Wish I'd have had a rifle".
Who are these "farmers" that are demanding we keep killing all the deer? They sure as heck don't live or farm around me!
Wish he had received the attitude survey...