Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - 'Cover your deer' bill sparks debate

'Cover your deer' bill sparks debate

Jan 09, 2007 - 04:02:52 CST

By BLAKE NICHOLSON
Associated Press Writer

In a place where the right to hunt is in the state constitution, some hunters believe it is poor manners to display dead, bloody animals on their vehicles as they're hauling them home.

Others say the state has no business forcing hunters to throw a tarp over their game when they're traveling down North Dakota's highways.

Rep. Duane DeKrey, R-Pettibone, said he expected to provoke a debate when he introduced a bill last week that sought to require hunters to cover their game.

But he said he did not anticipate the uproar that ensued, one that he said was so extensive that he withdrew the measure Monday.

"Some of it was even a lot more vitriolic than I ever dreamed it would have been," he said. "I could see no more good coming from continuing it. The discussion had been had. It was quite evident which way the bill was going."

DeKrey, a hunter himself who represents a rural district in central North Dakota, said he had personally witnessed grisly highway scenes during deer season, including one hunter who was haphazardly towing carcasses in a trailer.

"Two does were hanging over the top, and there was blood running down from both of them on the side of the trailer," he said. "I thought, 'What kind of image does that give us?'"

Neither the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies nor the Wildlife Management Institute tracks the number of states that have carcass-covering rules. But Steve Williams, president of the institute and a former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said the nationwide trend in the past couple of decades has been to promote the covering of dead animals, and not just to remove the possibility of offending someone.

"It keeps (the carcass) out of the weather, and you end up with better meat for the table," he said.

In decades past, Williams said, the opposite was true. Many states required hunters to leave their game exposed to combat poaching.

"I can remember in my career eliminating that regulation," said Williams, who worked in state wildlife agencies in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Kansas for 17 years.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals would prefer that hunters leave game uncovered because it might bolster PETA's anti-hunting cause, spokesman Bruce Friedrich said.

"We encourage people, if they're going to kill defenseless animals, to parade the animal's carcass all over town, since uncovered bloody carcasses are more likely to wake people up to the cruelties of hunting," he said. "Clearly, covering up cruelty doesn't help animals at all."

In North Dakota, the issue is not one of ethics but of the merits of covering game, and opinions vary even among hunters.

"This is the silliest piece of legislation I've seen yet. It's just plain foolish," Ralph Muecke, of Gladstone, said of DeKrey's proposal. Muecke said he stows his deer carcasses in the back of a pickup to get them home.

While Muecke believes DeKrey's proposal was unnecessary, Mike Paulson, a hunter from the Cass County community of Hunter, said he would not view it as an imposition.

"It wouldn't hurt anything, and would probably keep some people happy," he said.

DeKrey said e-mails he received on the issue were equally divided. "The typical response from opponents ... is, 'I'll take my dead animal anywhere I want and display it anywhere I want,'" he said.

True supporters want to keep hunting viable, DeKrey said. Other supporters want to eliminate disturbing views.

"I got an e-mail from a lady in Minot who said she was tired of her children being traumatized by going down the highway and seeing deer in various states of death," DeKrey said.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has issued a record number of deer gun hunting licenses in two of the past three years, because of a bloated population caused primarily by mild winters. That means more dead deer being hauled on the highways, but department director Terry Steinwand doesn't see it as an image problem.

"It's a North Dakota culture - hunting, butchering beef, hogs, whatever it might be," he said. "People are so used to ... seeing somebody driving down the road with a deer in the back of a pickup or the back of a trailer."

Steinwand said his department, which took no stance on DeKrey's bill, does not receive complaints from people horrified by the public display of dead game. He also said he does not believe broaching the subject indicates that hunting is less tolerated.

"Looking at license sales, they continue to increase," Steinwand said. "If there's an anti-hunting sentiment out there, we're not hearing it at all."

A telephone survey conducted last fall by the Virgina-based research firm Responsive Management found that 78 percent of Americans approve of legal hunting, compared with 73 percent in 1995.

The percentage of the public that hunts has dropped to its lowest level ever, but Williams said that is attributable to a growing population, more people living in urban areas and people having fewer opportunities to hunt.

"The stronghold in the U.S. is the Midwest," he said. "But it's safe to say that even in North Dakota, hunters are in the minority."

DeKrey wants to ensure it's a respected and not despised minority, and believes hunters themselves can have the biggest influence.

"It's about keeping the testosterone lower when you're going down the highway and showing off your big buck," he said. "Some of it is a little over the top."

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Comments

Joe Johnson wrote on Feb 1, 2007 3:12 PM:

" PETA! They have no room to even talk! Look at all the dead puppies and kittens they murdered in North Carloina! http://www.petakillsanimals.com/ "

brad wrote on Jan 10, 2007 11:20 AM:

" What about the dead deer on the side of the road and all the blood that is painted on the road?????? I have seen moore deer on the raod dead than in the back of trucks or on trailers!!!!! So wear is the bill to stop that? "

Preacher wrote on Jan 9, 2007 11:25 PM:

" I'm amazed at the number of naive people in ND -always thought of you folks as salt-of-the-Earth types who had their heads together. Anyone whose children are "traumatized" by seeing dead game animals should be forced by law to pass a college-level course on child-rearing or pay for counseling for the children. Or, better yet, remain childless! "

the hawk wrote on Jan 9, 2007 8:16 PM:

" as an avid hunter and farmer, I don't see any cows, hogs etc: going down the road in a truck with hides still on! get a life guys and gals. take the hide off and let the critter cool quick and you have good meat! duh? "

non hunter wrote on Jan 9, 2007 7:38 PM:

" Keep in mind that there are people who have grown up in this state and have never hunted and have no interest in it. It does not make me any lesser of a person or my opinion worth any less. I pay taxes in this state and really don't care if this bill ever made into law, if hunters would show a little more consideration for those of us who do not share their enthusiasm for the sport. I see this to be about consideration. "

news wrote on Jan 9, 2007 6:15 PM:

" On Sundays the Washington Post runs a summary of news from around the different regions of the country and about a week ago it ran a few of the comments from posters here about this topic after the first time it was in the Tribune. (free registration may be required) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/29/AR2006122901877.html "

ms wrote on Jan 9, 2007 5:28 PM:

" Hunters, just clean it up a bit, as for another law, come on you legislators are a bit full of yourself or grasping at bills. we do not need more laws. "

hmmmmmmmm wrote on Jan 9, 2007 5:17 PM:

" we live in nd.hunting is a way of life..as is butchering hogs,beef,chickens........most of us have grown up around it and consider it part of life.hunters take classes at age 12....isnt there something more important for our well paid politicians to worry about? "

hunter/father wrote on Jan 9, 2007 4:18 PM:

" I agree with both sides, I think it is a waste of time to bring up such a bill as it just causes controversy, but at the same time I feel that if people are traveling down the ND Highways/Interstates that they should have there game covered up. This last deer season I pulled into a gas station with my 3 kids (oldest being 6) & an out of state hunter was pulling a trailer with 4 deer in the back, needless to say, this hunter's 4 deer where on there back so there were 16 legs sticking in the air, now anyone in there right mind would agree that them should of 1)been placed different & 2) probably covered up. Like I said I am a hunter myself, but I have a topper on my truck so it's not an issue. "

wood-eye wrote on Jan 9, 2007 3:19 PM:

" More Republican Right Wing rhetoric coming from the 2007 Legislature. Can't the Republicans EVER think out of the box and introduce bills that truely reflect some "common sense" instead of wasting all their time on frivolous bills. This bill was ridiculous and a waste of the N.D. taxpayers money! "

Jody wrote on Jan 9, 2007 2:01 PM:

" good for you Brian you are right what do people expect when a deer is hit by a vehicle or semi it isn't very pretty site either especially when it isn't removed for a day or two what does "consider the children" do have her kids duck down in the seat and not look or does she rush out and cover it up? There are a lot more carcasses out on the roads dead all year long than during deer season. Do these people also not let there kids see raw meat? where do you think that comes from. Covered deer in a lot of states is illegal because then the law cannot tell if it has been tagged or not so no way to tell if it was poached or not. This does seem like a silly way to waste taxpayers money. "

To PO3 wrote on Jan 9, 2007 1:42 PM:

" How can this be "left wing political correctness"???? DeKrey is a Republican. "

jw wrote on Jan 9, 2007 1:35 PM:

" While I agree that there are things I wouldn't want my children to witness, seeing a dead deer carcass is not one of them. The fact that in a few mile stretch on any given highway they see the guts and gore of one blown apart from a vehicle is worse than any being carried on a vehicle. When I did hunt we always carried ours in the bed of the truck so they would cool off but we did not purposely place them to the public or expose them to say "HEY LOOKIE". But to all you non hunters please keep in mind before you point fingers at hunters and shout "killers" Man has been a hunter since the begining, its in the bible even. Genesis 27:3. Maybe a little tolerance on both sides is needed. "

Hunter's Wife wrote on Jan 9, 2007 1:26 PM:

" To non-hunter, then I for sure hope that you are a vegetarian as I am sure you know where I am going with this one or hasn't that been explained to you either... as beef and pork have to be slaughtered just as that deer did and all of the processes to get that deer, beef, pork onto your plate is not clean and sanitized and just because you didn't have to witness it doesn't mean it didn't happen. I hope you don't have friends or family that are farmers because then you think your family and friends are jerks also. Lastly, the only way you have to look at my "kill" while you are driving is if you are riding on my bumper which I don't think you are so you can look away but you are the same type of people that can't take your eyes off of it because curiosity gets you just like the rest of the people on the road and then feel it necessary to complain about it. Hmmm makes perfect sense to me!!! "

PO3 wrote on Jan 9, 2007 1:07 PM:

" More left wing political correctness going wild. Doesn't surprise me, thats all they have to do is force their views on others. "

non hunter wrote on Jan 9, 2007 12:58 PM:

" I agree with you Paul T. The only people mocking DeKrey are those that don't agree with him. I do not hunt, but agree with your right to do so. The issue for me is consideration. Please cover it up, that's all. And for those of you that say it's part of life, get over it. There are alot of things that are part of life that we shelter children from. Its your right to hunt, its my right not to have to see it. (I also can't look away, I'm driving.) By the way, when I see you driving down the road with your "kill," I'm not admiring your ability as a hunter, I'm thinking of you as a jerk. "

What wrote on Jan 9, 2007 12:54 PM:

" You can tell the woman from Minot is a "city slicker". If she or her kids grew up on a farm/ranch they would know what a dead animal looks like and the smell associated with it. As a hunter and former farm kid there is nothing traumatizing about a dead except for the first time you see one. I do agree with Dekrey to point, and ask other hunters to display a little respect for what they kill. i.e. not having blood running down the side of the vehicle/trailer or letting the head of the deer you killed drag on road as you drive. I saw that this season and its uncalled for. "

jw wrote on Jan 9, 2007 12:49 PM:

" To hunters wife. You could not have said it better. Traumatized? For goodness sakes, I grow up in North Dakota and saw deer on vehicles every fall I don't think it hurt me any at all. When are we going to stop smothering our children and let them learn some of the hard knocks of LIFE. Take the bubble wrap wrap off folks this is how it is. People hunt, animals die. There will be blood. Get over it. Get out of your cupcake world and get in the real world where people don't owe you anything and your kids need to start learning what life is really like. Quit living it for them. "

Paul T. wrote on Jan 9, 2007 12:39 PM:

" To those of you who are bashing Dekrey for introducing a bill need to close your mouths and open your eyes and ears. Dekrey is doing what he was elected for and that is what a democracy is all about. Just becuase you don't think his bill had any merit does not mean it didn't. We live in a society where an exchange of ideas and thoughts are encouraged and honored; and by you saying it was a waste of time only shows your ignorance. If you think there are more important things to be introduced into the legislative process, then get of your lazy behinds and contact your representatives so others can mock what you consider worthy or important. "

Dan wrote on Jan 9, 2007 12:33 PM:

" I spend very little hunting. My rifle was a gift, the hunting grounds are less than 30 miles from home, and I don't get carried away with high-buck shells and spotting scopes and all the high-tech goodies. This year I spent $80 on tags, $50 or less on gas, $22 on shells (still have enough for next year)and $20 or so on snacks and drinks to take along hunting. I ended up with over 200 lbs. of meat. Find me some top quality beef for under a buck a pound! But I can definitely agree that there are plenty of overboard hunters whose venison probably costs them upwards of $30 per pound after all is said and done. "

Hunter's Wife wrote on Jan 9, 2007 12:30 PM:

" To To Dan. It may not be cheaper but the value of that meat is a heck of alot better than the slim that you get at the grocery store. That in itself is worth alot more. Also to Consider the Children the young children that do see this type of thing are not what you call traumatized it should be called LIFE, where do you tell them that the steaks, hamburgers & Pork Chops come from that they eat? Maybe it's not discussed but it should be it's a fact of life, you can not shelter them from everything in life. The best way to teach a child something is to be up front and honest instead of making them naive to the world we live in. Some day they will want to know these kinds of things why not teach them when they are younger instead of older and may have find out the hard way. "

Proud FEMALE Hunter wrote on Jan 9, 2007 12:15 PM:

" What a chauvanistic jerk we have in office. This comment alone shows his lack of PR & common sense: "It's about keeping the testosterone lower when you're going down the highway and showing off your big buck" Last time I checked, my female hormones didn't have a whole lot of testosterone flowing... Can't wait til voting time rolls around = ) Bye Bye DeKrey! (as for the lady in Minot with her 'traumatized children', I am assuming she keeps them in the house 24/7, with no TV, radio, or other personal contacts? Just so they are not traumatized by any outside stimuli...) Sheesh! I bet other states are laughing at good old ND on this one!! "

To Dan: wrote on Jan 9, 2007 12:05 PM:

" The only part of your comment I don't agree with is the cost of what's in your freezer is cheaper than what's in BabyT's freezer. I also deer hunt and I can tell you that buying a half a beef is MUCH cheaper in the long run than deer hunting. When you add in gas, guns, ammo, binocs, spotting scope, etc, there's nothing inexpensive about deer hunting. "

The Point wrote on Jan 9, 2007 11:33 AM:

" Do we really need another law for this? Doesn't Rep. DeKray have anything better to work on? Maybe they could draft some sort of recommendation to Game and Fish to promote covering the game while transporting it, not going so far as to make a law. There's too much government in our lives the way it is. I think common sense applies here. People who think, "I'm going to do what I want and don't care who is effected by it" are going to do just that. The rest of us with respect for others will take their view points into consideration. Maybe just by this bill being talked about more hunters will cover their game. I personally don't, but will reconsider now. "

Brian wrote on Jan 9, 2007 10:35 AM:

" Not sure about everyone else but I see more bloody animal carcassas laying along the road year round that nobody takes care of than you do in the few weeks a year that a majority of people hunt deer. "

Consider the children wrote on Jan 9, 2007 10:14 AM:

" I understand the use of hunting to control game populations, however, I certainly would prefer not to have my young children subjected to a bloody carcass while driving down our roadways. I myself would prefer not to see them. Although, for some hunting is an enjoyable "sport" for others viewing animals in such a fashion can be tramutizing, especially for young children. In addition to those who take no precautions to cover their game. When you hang it and strip it of it's hide, why not consider doing so in your garage, back yard, etc rather than hanging a disfigured corpse in your front yard where others children are subjected to seeing such a bloody mess? "

Dan wrote on Jan 9, 2007 10:10 AM:

" BabyT, you can have your opinion regarding hunting, but I can assure you that the practice is anything but antiquated and useless. Tell ya what...let's call off deer season for a year or two and listen to anti-hunters whine up a storm about the overpopulation of deer, gardens being eaten, cars being wrecked, etc. Maybe once the overpopulated herd begins to die off from starvation and disease you and your ilk would be happy? I get great exercise and have a lot of fun when I'm hunting. It's a family tradition, full of camaraderie and a spirit of cooperation. And the contents of my deep freeze are far more nutritious, lower in fat, all natural and much cheaper than what's in your freezer. And as for covering the kill? My deer carcasses make a short 1/2 hour trip from the farm to the house in the back of a truck where only motorists in big tall vehicles would ever see them. "

Wasted T wrote on Jan 9, 2007 10:02 AM:

" yes agreed. total waste of time effort money to bring this to the point he did. go cover yourself in a tarp mr dekrey, as you just offended someone. "

BabyT wrote on Jan 9, 2007 9:24 AM:

" I think hunting in itself is an antiquated and useless concept. But to drive around and proudly display your 'kill'... guess what, not only do the majority of people not care about it, they don't want to see it either. What you think is a proud display of your hunting skills and what most other people think of it are two opposite ends of the spectrum. "

Hmmmmmm wrote on Jan 9, 2007 8:58 AM:

" It's comforting to know that our elected officials are working on such important topics! With all of the issues in our state that need priority attention, why on earth would Mr. DeKrey waste everybody's time and effort on something so trivial? C'mon, folks - let's take care of the important issues in the state! "

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