Fish & Wildlife is offering $1,000 to private property owners who live on 5 acres or more on Whidbey Island as a way to incentivize the continuation of hunting black-tailed deer, a very beloved species of deer that roam freely on Whidbey Island.

Fish & Wildlife supports hunting under the guise of “conservation”, and to protect drivers from deer-related car accidents, and to curb overpopulation.

Reasons why this shouldn't happen.

Hunting promotes overpopulation. After hunting season, the abrupt drop in population leads to less competition among survivors, resulting in a higher birth rate. 

The Washington States deer-related automobile collisions are very low—1 in 395 chance of a crash. Advocating to control the deer population by means of hunting should be outlawed and we should be advocating for harmonious and humane relationships with other species by incentivizing driver awareness and increasing penalties for distracted or speeding drivers that injure wildlife or offering safety classes for drivers so we can more adequately respond to wildlife. This would be a more beneficial approach for everyone. 

Fish & Wildlife want to pay people out of taxpayers money to make it easier to murder animals in the name of conservation and safety? I am sick to death of arrogant officials, so-called leaders and specialists playing god with living beings who have just as much right to live out their lives with their families and their communities as we do and using taxes that could be used to improve life for everyone. We are human, we can come up with a better solution than contract killing, surely. Animals have relationships and family structures. They suffer just as we do. Who do you think you are to just go in and destroy them. They value their life just as you value yours. How about bringing down the speed limits on the island to improve human safety? I know what it takes to change that law. It took two years to bring the speed limit down out the front of our house by a measly 10 miles per hour. God forbid we ask people to slow down and put up signs that show respect and admiration for the amazing wildlife that we share this beautiful place with. I am disgusted and heartbroken at the suffering this will cause these animals.

Please sign this petition if you don't want this to happen and share it with others.

Maybe we can stop it. Thank you.