I enjoyed your article “What to do about too many deer;” however, the problem for many hunters is not enough deer (and turkeys) or too few “shooter bucks” that meet the antler restrictions. I own property in Milanville, PA, and live in Livingston Manor (LM) and I can tell you we must have at least 30 deer in several different herds within about a two-mile radius of town in LM, but that is not the case near the state land in the Parksville, Debruce, Lew Beach and Willowemoc areas.

What is the difference? Habitat is the difference; the state land has big tall old woods. Meanwhile near town, there is a good mix of tall old woods down to saplings as well as grass/clover, fields, marsh/swamp, prairie, a farm or two and, of course, fruit trees along the roadways, and bushes and fruit and nut trees near people’s homes. Also, Sullivan County is the only county in which it is legally allowed to feed wildlife, so I don’t think too many people are trekking through three feet of snow to the deep old woods to feed deer in February.

Logging is good if it is done right. If new oaks are planted or given room to grow up, but if all the white and red oaks are harvested by loggers and “junk trees” that do not produce mast/nuts grow up in their place, what are the deer, bear and turkeys supposed to feed on in the fall to get ready for winter? The areas that have too many deer should have more doe and if need be buck tags issued, and the areas that have a less dense deer population need to have more restrictions and DEC/game wardens to enforce the restrictions. Lastly, a good controlled burn and creating bedding areas/brush piles opening up some paths through the big woods thus allowing some sunlight through the canopy to the ground will also improve the habitat for wildlife, and fruit and nut trees and berry bushes should be planted.

John JP Pasquale

Livingston Manor, NY