First, I have to take issue with your statement, that people hunt because they like to kill. I’m not a hunter but I am aware that a lot of people on this island fill their freezers during hunting season. They hunt to eat, to feed themselves and their families. That being said, the deer are the largest vector for ticks on this island. Prevention and protection are certainly your best bet but even though I spray our clothes with permethrin, apply insect repellent and my partner and I are diligent about our end of day tick checks, (aka “Chilmark Foreplay), we still both suffered from Lyme disease this summer; for me it was my sixth bout in 20 years. And what happens when the prescribed medications are no longer effective? I can appreciate your compassion but “walking the woods...intelligently,” doesn’t always work.

Overpopulation is a real problem for deer on the island. Culling the deer population not only reduces the primary vector for a debilitating illness, but keeps the herd healthy.

Deer can cause a lot of damage in a short period. They are opportunist animals that can safely eat more than 700 different plant species. They are also adaptable, moving into communities and suburban areas to find cover, food, and security. The amount of damage they can cause in one day on a single property could total several thousand dollars. Hunting is a way to maintain control of the local wildlife population. Not to mention, In the United States, automotive collisions with deer cause an estimated 200 deaths every year. The average cost paid out by vehicle owners and insurance companies to cover the cost of damage to vehicles in these accidents exceeds $4 billion annually. In total, more than 1.2 million accidents are believed to occur every year on US roads. Hunting helps to reduce population levels, which may also be a factor in reducing overall accident levels. Don't stop for the stupid turkeys in the road and PLEASE kill the deer. And the raccoons.