Opinion : Oh Deer, I thought they came here all by themselves!

A few years ago I was talking to a friend of mine about how I absolutely hated deer. Love to eat them, but not the part about them that includes them running on the roads.

Then she told me that they were brought here back in the 30's. Now I'm NOT a farm girl, or pay much attention to how animals migrate, but I just assumed that the deer came here all by themselves.

But sure enough, Martha let me borrow her articles about the deer.

Back in 1936, deer were relocated here from the Ledges State Park near Boone. Of course they decided, the best place in the area was to locate them practically right across the road from where we live on the Sauer farm.

The relocation included Virginia white tail deer. The largest they brought was a 6 point Buck and they brought along a doe and young "faun". It all started with a small group of 7 deer. That's all they brought.

A few years ago, I felt like I was driving out in the wild west.

In the field next to me was a herd of 25-30 deer just flying to my right, their cute little white tails reminding you of overgrown bunnies hopping across the hills. While enjoying the sight to my right, I had to keep my eye to the left where all the woods are and where the deer live.

That's when I start to wonder, "What were they thinking?" Who in their right mind would start a herd of animals as large as a small cow, and think that it is a good idea to let them loose?

Of course when they ran faster than the cars, it probably wasn't much of an issue.

So now you know. The next time you see deer, and the next time you hit one with the car, thank the folks in Boone for sharing the venison.

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Reader Comments:

Could we send them all back to the fine folks in Boone? I don't mind giving a gift to them like that if you don't!