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Back to basics

To the Journal editor:

Brian Reynolds represents a special interest group, Upper Peninsula Whitetails of Marquette County and believes that after talking the Michigan Department of Natural Resources into allowing continuous overharvesting of bucks for decades (two-buck law), then convincing the DNR that trophy buck hunting under the mask of Quality Deer Management was the way to go (How is it working out, Mr. Reynolds?).

Now Mr. Reynolds wants to dictate how to set season dates. Mr. Reynolds says the deep snow of 2014 gave hunters hunting deer near deer yards a great season they otherwise would not have had and in his next breath says it would be unfair for archers to harvest some of these deer in December. Wow!

It is time for the DNR to man up, quit catering to these special interest groups that do not represent everyone and acquire and manage what they can actually control, which is winter habitat, season dates and bag limits here in the U.P. The deer will do the rest by themselves given a little help.

Today’s problems were created years ago with the destruction of these yarding areas. What remains must be protected.

Go back to one buck per season, manage winter habitat responsibly and things will get better here in the U.P. Natural selection will create a stronger and larger deer herd, overharvest and continued destruction of winter habitat will not.

Thale Herman

Harvey

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