82 



protecting young trees from deer? Will arsenate on the 

 leaves keep them off, or lime-sulfur on the twigs be too much 

 of an appetizer?" 



Mr. Parker. My experience with the deer is such that 

 I believe that if the state passed a law that we could use a 

 rifle it would be the best protection for an orchard. Day 

 before yesterday there were three lying around my orchard 

 all day. I don't think they did any damage yesterday, but 

 they have done damage before ; they broke down those op- 

 ple trees, and in a young orchard of 80 trees they nipped 

 lhe tops of every one. If the state will give the farmer a 

 right to use a rifle we can soon get over the deer question. 

 A man that gets within 50 or 75 yards of a deer in an or- 

 chard has got to creep pretty close and I think the state is 

 showing blame poor business management in putting in 

 demonstration orchards and turning herds of rteer in to eat 

 them up. That is my opinion. (Applause). 



Mr. Wheeler. The state does allow a farmer to use a 

 Tifle on his own land at the present tim-; ^n sliooc deer do- 

 ing damage, with any gun; it makes no difference whether 

 it is a shot gun or a rifle. The law reads at the present 

 time "kill" and I know that several deer in a few weeks 

 have been shot in orchards and the game wardens have all 

 justified the shooting and allowed it. 



Mr. Copeland. I have wintered some deer for two 

 years. I know them decently well and I have had them do- 

 ing damage for me and if I could kill them I would not care 

 whether I used a shot gun or a rifle or a stone, but I should 

 kill them. In the nest place, get a good game warden. We 

 have got some up our way and they will stand back of us, 

 and Iha^ is the way you want to do too. (Applause). 



Mr. Eace. I think that it is getting to be a very serious 

 question in southern Berkshire county. 



Pres. The law seems to read if you discover the deer 

 injuring trees you can shoot them. 



]\Tr. Race. That don't cover it at all. The state pro- 

 jects the deer. 



Pres. The state will pay the bill, will it not? 



Mr. Race. The state has got a lot of what they call 

 oramr^ on hand — on our hands, not on theirs, — and we have 

 ofot *o support them for some fellow to shoot. A year ago 

 and la"t year I fed 16 on my farm and there were 16 on a 



