[Deer] are not pets, but traffic and property damage hazards. I, too, enjoy seeing the deer around my town and have taken several pictures, but they have multiplied so much, becoming traffic hazards, especially near dawn, dusk or full dark. Between the tourists and even locals that have created a “sanctuary city” for deer and stop in the middle of traffic to “watch or photograph” the deer, they are all over.

Don’t get me started on the other locals who “feed” them. Tonight while coming in on Sims Way [our main highway] and only doing about 20-25 mph (30 mph zone), several deer just down the street were crossing, and we were all slowing to let them pass. All while watching the crosswalks, side streets and oncoming traffic as we should with attentive driving. Then out of a grocery store parking lot right beside me (unseen by oncoming car headlights, opposing bumper-to-bumper traffic, and my driver’s door), this doe runs into my truck push bumper, and I nailed it. Millisecond to try and respond. Not. Darn it, deader than a doorknob. Sorry for the deer, but we get this all the time in this town.

Maybe it’s time motorists send the city a bill for damage to cars since they do nothing to harness the breeding. I wonder if there is any city liability in this. Let WDFW catch them, relocate them to the woods far out of the city, like we would a cougar found in the city, and let nature take its course without human intervention. I’ll even volunteer my truck/trailer/help. Maybe I’ll even volunteer to dump the carcass in the yard of anyone who supports the “deer” and let you deal with the mess.

CRAIG LOHNER

Port Townsend