I went home to Clinton Co. the 1st week of rifle season & much to my surprise i saw 13 deer the 1st 3 days. Usually i see anywhere from 30-50 deer a day & I got a chance to speak with the neighbors before i left & they informed me that the Amish really put the smash to the deer this summer & fall for crop damage. Im not living there so im not sure how true this is but it kinda upsets me a bit to hear that their herding deer to a corner of the fields that has an 8' fence & just shootin everything in sight. Does anyone know if these people have to follow an antler restriction while shooting deer for crop damage or are they above that law as well? I know during the red tag season in late summer & early fall it's does only with a valid hunting liscense for us regular people but since they are exempt from liscenses due to making their living off the land does that give them the right to shoot anything. I had high hopes for the AR's for our land but if this is the kinda thing thats gonna go on in that area of clinton co. it's kinda useless to have restrictions.

any thoughts or answers would be greatly appreciated
Mike

It's probably true rem. I know in N.J that a farmer can get a permit to shoot deer because of crop damage. They are allowed to shoot any and as many deer as they want to. I know one farmer that shot over 100 deer last summer, and he has a club that hunts the land he farms! Do ya know what he did with the deer? He dug a hole with a backhoe and threw them in it. Sickening [:'(]

This post has got me hot...first of all if they(amish) are herding deer into a "trap" that is an ethics issue that need to be brought up to local game officals. Second if the farmer that bow-4-it is talking about really did we he did than he needs to be reported for wanton waste. There is a farmers and hunters feeding the hungery program that would have been tickled pink at the oppurtunity for that much meat. Not to mention that crop damage permits are usualy for does only. This is the kind of crap, that if goes on unchecked will have a direct impact on our hunting rights if the "wrong crowd" gets word of this. I would rat these guys out in a heart beat.

DJ

It's true here in Ohio. They encircle a woods and drive it until the deer are gone or are dead. It isn't rare...and I've actually seen it several times. I'm not giving second hand info.

I have no problem with anybody hunting...but there is a HUGE question of ethics.

I once thought that with a crop damage permit that you caould shoot anything/anytime. My Father-in-law got one for his farm this year and the rules are very clear here in MD. Antleredless deer only (BB's are included in that) and you can only use what is legal for that area. Plus, once the huntign season comes in you have to use the weapon for that season.

Now the Amish might have different rules, and I'd check in to that if I were you, but as for the crop damage permit I think there are some misconceptions.

In Ohio...it depends on the wording of the permit. Here, in some occasions, the holder of the permits can use high power rifles....We can't even use those in gun season.

Here's a funny story for you...

My buddy is a butcher. He butchers deer for hunters for the hungry for free. A lady came up and informed him that his mother had been issued 12 "anything goes" crop damage permits. She asked if he would process 6 of the deer for them if they donated the other 6. He know the lady fairly well, and asked if her mother allowed hunting on her land. The lady said no, my buddy told her to get lost and that he hoped the deer ate the siding off her damn house.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!! 95% of these geniuses getting these permits don't allow hunting...or they allow one or 2 guys to hunt. If you don't allow hunting, you shouldn't get the permits....PLAIN AND SIMPLE

That is a shame about the amish folks. They are on their own planet. I am sure there is someone to talk to about it. That just sounds so cruel to corral them and shot away.

That stinks as far as the concept of crop damage permits. There should be some kind of inspection and number of permits based upon acreage, and even a visit to see how the habitat and adjoining habitat is affecting patterns of the deer. I know our hunting property is greatly affected depending on what we plant and where. Depending on which fields are fallow we can predict not only where they will be but how many we anticipate.

As far as not allowing hunting on their property, I don't think it is in anyone other than the landowner's perogative to decide who does what on their land. I know if I had kid's, livestock pets etc I might be reluctant to let hunters other than my close circle on my property. Too many crazies and I think safety of my property comes first.

If you are a hunter and can't find responsible buddies/relatives to help you curtail your deer herd...then you don't deserve the permits. Landowners won't take the time to find some responsible hunters to help them out...but will jump through 100 hoops to get the permits.

Too many people don't let folks hunt on principle and then cry when their flowers get eaten. Damn shame.

In Delaware we can get crop damage permits, but they can only be used during deer hunting season and you can only take does with them. If you get a buck you have to use your regular tag, but you can harvest as many doe as you have tags. We till a farm that is about 300 acres and must have a couple hundred deer and the owner only shoots buck, 6 pts or better, maybe they get 2 or 3 deer a year, you can't imagine how much crop damage we have , but the owner doesn;t allow anyone else to hunt there, so we djust gripe about it and go on and farm and put up with it..

Amish people have to follow the same rules as other hunters. If you suspect anything is wrong, don't hesitate to call the PGC.