MDHA Couple Begins Emergency Feeding Of Deer

Carlton- Mike and Linda Neault have been driving out to the back country twice a day, every day this week to feed the deer.

They are just two of the 1000 volunteers who have recently started emergency deer feeding.

Mike says, "they're not only starving, they're freezing to death.

While they are both avid hunters, they are not feeding anywhere near where they hunt.

That's not why they do it.

"I don't hunt in this area. Where I hunt is 25–30 miles from here. Both my wife and I are animal lovers and it's hard to watch an animal starve to death."

We went out with the Neaults today and saw hundreds of deer, many of them very skinny.

"And seeing them when they are sickly looking like that, it keeps you going, that you feel like you're helping."

Mike was choked up when he recalled finding several deer that he says starved to death.

"I found four yesterday that were dead from starvation and two of them that the wolves or the coyotes were eating alive. They were bleeding profusely. It was a hard thing to see."

And Linda won't even go near them.

"I enjoy the part coming out and seeing the deer, like we were running around, but I don't want to see the dead animals, but I know that's why we're here, so we don't have so many of them."

Even though the DNR is against the feeding program.

The Neaults say they will keep at it.

"I feel what I'm doing is the right thing, I wish we would have started a month ago.

While the DNR is supplying the feed at the MDHA's request they do not support the practice.

They said:

•The science shows deer feeding has no positive effects on the overall deer population.

•It can increase the deers risk of disease by making them congregate in abnormal quantities.

•Deer are resilient and even during hard winters, rebound quickly, so feeding isn't necessary.