This is a problem becoming far too typical in Southern Ontario and other high poplulation areas (such as the Ottawa Region). I see that Lanark is south of Ottawa and maybe not so populated, but here' s my experience.

On Mother' s Day weekend, we went for a hike only a couple of miles outside of Kanata. The conservation area is used heavily by hikers and mountain bikers alike and as we were crossing a field only 100 yards from the road, we spotted three deer.

First we saw a doe and fawn. The wind was blowing at our backs and they obviously smelled us first. The simply hurried away from us and when they felt safe (I could have thrown a rock and hit them), they stopped and looked at us without regard.

We then spotted another deer crossing the far end of the field and it was like he/she never even saw us. I bleated to get its attention. Nothing. So I whistled. Then it stopped and looked directly at us for about 10 seconds. Then he went back to grazing. He was farther away, but in November I still could have easily reached out and touched him .

Finally, I was heading back to the car and rounded a bunch of bushes and ran smack into that doe once again. She was only 10 yards away and there was nothing between us and she never moved an inch. I couldn' t believe it and figured that the fawn must have been around there somewhere. Finally after circling the doe, I saw the fawn laying under some trees behind her.

To make a long story short, there are some serious problem areas in Ontario. I live in one of them south of Kitchener. The MNR has to extend shotgun hunts and perhaps vary them throughout the year in order to get the deer numbers down to something more manageable.

However, the proposed actions by the Lanark group are not advisable. Their vigilante actions will end up costing them dearly in the long run. Let' s hope that this can be properly settled in a reasonable fashion.