Police sharpshooters have begun killing deer in Montgomery County Park, Maryland, in a misguided attempt to reduce the resident deer numbers. Often touted as a “humane” method, unsuspecting and innocent deer are being shot by snipers, in a war-like scenario.

 A recent incident shows how inhumane these government-orchestrated “urban hunts” really are. On February 23, 2013, a resident walking in the woods near Brookside Gardens/Wheaton Stables was horrified to find a doe with her jaw ripped open. According to a former hunter familiar with deer culling operations, the wound was caused by a “small caliber exploding bullet” from a gun most likely used by Montgomery County Park Police sharpshooters. The hiker had come to photograph wildlife and instead witnessed an appalling, gruesome scene with a frightened, suffering doe.

Not only did the shooter not follow the injured deer to put her out of her misery, but Montgomery County Park Police initially refused to come out to end the deer’s suffering. In fact, the dispatcher even laughed when he heard about the injured deer.

 The violence and callousness with which urban deer are treated is unacceptable and should not be tolerated! These animals have done nothing wrong! If there are high numbers of urban deer, it is the result of state wildlife agencies artificially feeding and breeding deer as “food for the guns.” Now, the same government and members of the hunting community insist that killing is the only (and most humane) way of reducing deer numbers. Take a look at these photos and judge for yourself – don’t deer deserve better than this?

Please sign the petition asking them to stop immediately and adopt a humane alternative.