BROOKHAVEN — Hunters, land owners and managers brought concerns over deer depredation permits to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission Wednesday. Commission Chairman Scott Coopwood vowed the department would look into the concerns and how to address them.
Bill Marcelo was the first gentleman to address the commission in a public comment period. He explained he has owned the same property in Yazoo County since 1995 and bought it for recreation. Over time, the deer population and number of hunters have increased in the area, he said.
Now, he sees a problem of oversight with deer depredation permits and the farmers who use animal control permits each spring to “protect,” their crops. The unchecked removal of deer around him has lowered property values by lowering the deer population, Marcello argued.
“I’m part of a group of property owners who have worked with a biologist. I hunt around 800 acres and I’ve noticed a decrease in deer,” Marcello said. “Biologists recommended I shoot 1 doe per 100 acres and four miles away, the recommendation is 1 doe per 25 acres. The farmers around my property have abused deer depredation permits. At this point, something has to change.”