In the News: Upton deer station irks some

Coyote33

Coyote33

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 Upton deer station irks some Police chief says site too close to playground

Upton deer station irks some

Police chief says site too close to playground

By Donna Boynton TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF


Maybe I am wrong, but I think it’s poor judgment on their part.

Thomas Stockwell,
UPTON POLICE CHIEF
Picture

Wildlife biologist Richard Hartley, left, takes information yesterday near a playground in Upton about an 83-pound buck bagged by Steven Cooper of Franklin.
(T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN)
Enlarge photo



UPTON— Police Chief Thomas Stockwell and state biologists locked horns yesterday over the location of a deer checkpoint station that can be seen from the town playground.

Police asked the biologists from the Central District office of the state Division of Fisheries & Wildlife to move the checkpoint after they received a complaint from a father of a young child. However, the biologists manning the checkpoint yesterday afternoon said parents did not complain to them and some parents actually used the opportunity as a nature lesson.

The checkpoint was in the parking lot of the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall on Route 140, adjacent to the town playground, and was in the same vicinity last year without any complaints, state biologists said. It was unclear whether they would return to the site today and Saturday, as scheduled. Yesterday was the first day of shotgun hunting season, and state officials estimated that 25 deer were brought to the Upton checkpoint throughout the day. Hunters are required by law to have their deer weighed and tagged at a state checkpoint. Shotgun season lasts until Saturday.


Yesterday morning a father called the police to complain about the location of the scale and the small puddles of blood that were being left by freshly killed deer.

The playground was used yesterday by many parents with preschool-age children, and when Chief Stockwell visited the site yesterday, there were about 20 children in the playground while a shot deer was being weighed.

After receiving the complaint, Chief Stockwell dispatched an officer to ask the biologists to move to a more appropriate spot. The biologists told the officer that they had permission from the VFW to use the parking lot and were not intending to move.

The chief, hoping to resolve the matter, went to speak to the biologists himself and said he was rudely rebuffed.

“I told them I did not think this was an appropriate place to be doing this, and they replied that was only my opinion,” Chief Stockwell said. “They said they had permission and that they were going to stay.”

“Maybe I am wrong, but I think it’s poor judgment on their part,” said Chief Stockwell. He said he knows that gathering the information from the deer is central to their job. “There is a better place for this other than the center of town, next to a playground. They certainly wouldn’t set up next to an elementary school.”

Chief Stockwell suggested the checkpoint be moved to a state rest area on Route 140, near the Upton line, or in the parking lot across from the Grafton Flea Market, which is closed this time of year. Chief Stockwell said he called the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife’s regional supervisor, who listened to his concerns, but without reaching a resolution.

“If you put one of these in the center of Mendon, in the center of Hopedale or in the center of Milford, you would run into the same problem,” Chief Stockwell said. “I just think it is poor judgment.”

State biologists said they set up in the parking lot to avoid causing traffic problems along Route 140. The deer checkpoint is established in conjunction with Fin & Feather Sports, on Route 140, explained Bridgett McAlice, a game biologist with the Central District office, and Richard Hartley, who also is with the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.

“Because this was the first day of shotgun season, we were expecting a large volume and didn’t want to back up cars and traffic on Route 140, so we moved over here,” Ms. McAlice said.

The scale used to weigh the deer is typically kept by the door to the Fin & Feather store, Ms. McAlice said. The checkpoint initially started in the parking lot directly across the street from the store, but it was moved after Ms. McAlice and Mr. Hartley were informed that the parking lot was the playground parking lot, and as such was town property. The two moved to the far end of the VFW parking lot, next to the playground.

After the police spoke with them, they moved to another location on the VFW parking lot, near the Christmas tree sale stand about 50 feet away, so as not to be so close to the playground. Though the scale had been moved, there were still areas of wet blood where the checkpoint had been located.

Ms. McAlice said they were under the impression they had the permission of the VFW to use the lot, which was communicated to them through the owner of the sporting store, but they were told yesterday afternoon they did not have permission.

Mr. Hartley said they were never approached by any parent with a complaint; rather, parents seemed to welcome the weigh station.

“Numerous parents did come up with the kids to observe the situation, to touch the deer,” Mr. Hartley said. “In fact, they were fascinated by it. They were very interested by what we were doing and used this as an educational experience. … I wouldn’t have construed that as parents being upset or concerned. Kids weren’t upset by any means.”

Mr. Hartley said that handling a shot or killed deer will result in the inevitable occasional drop of blood.

Checkpoints are publicized, and if the checkpoint has to be moved or is closed, hunters are required to search out another, Ms. McAlice said.
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unbelievable. A completely legal activity and even that gets harrassment by the police. The police should have told the parent that it's one week. Use the playground and don't look at the deer if you don't want to see it or use another playground. The activity is legal. Just because it offends you doesn't mean they have to move. Another anti trying to use the law to their preference.
 
sksguns said:
unbelievable. A completely legal activity and even that gets harrassment by the police. The police should have told the parent that it's one week. Use the playground and don't look at the deer if you don't want to see it or use another playground. The activity is legal. Just because it offends you doesn't mean they have to move. Another anti trying to use the law to their preference.
Click to expand...

"Mr. Hartley said they were never approached by any parent with a complaint; rather, parents seemed to welcome the weigh station."
 
Coyote33 said:
"Mr. Hartley said they were never approached by any parent with a complaint; rather, parents seemed to welcome the weigh station."
Click to expand...

right...but one parent did complain to the police. That's why the officer was sent to ask them to move and when they refused the chief went and asked and they even told him no. They should drive the speed limit through that town from now on....lol

Even so, if the police asked them to move and they said no I don't imagine a civilian would have any luck in getting them to move.


"Police asked the biologists from the Central District office of the state Division of Fisheries & Wildlife to move the checkpoint after they received a complaint from a father of a young child."
 
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It's a good life lesson for the kids. Teach them how meat makes it to their table, etc. You can't have kids going through life thinking everything is a Disney cartoon. Give me a break. [rolleyes]
 
It seems Mass Wildlife basically told the chief to stuff it. Good for them.

It's Upton for goodness sakes. And the chief is acting like its Cambridge....
 
If you really want to freak them out, chop off it's head and use it as a hood ornament. Then put a bumper sticker across the forehead that says "Together We Can." [rofl] [laugh]

Adam_MA said:
+1

I can't wait till I bag one so I can drive around with it tied to my bumper proudly on display. Even though I have a truck, I might just strap it across the hood for added effect!
Click to expand...
 
funny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tw5uq2GVtQ&mode=related&search=

deerhunter1.jpg



BusyBodies Deer Hunter (Rifle) White T-Shirt
 
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you know, you talk about chopping the head off and using it for a hoos ornament....this father freaked out by seeing deer weighed....I would like to search his kids pc and see what graphic crap we find on there. The video ames today are worse than real life. What is that one....grand theft auto...they kill cops and prostitutes and get points....the stuff is so realistic it isn't funny. I'm just so pissed about this and the fact that the police acted on the compaint of this idiot. My post is all over the place. sorry. can't think straight.
 
The state caved! They moved it! [laugh]

State moves deer weigh-in site out of view of playground

November 28, 2006

UPTON, Mass. --State wildlife officials have agreed to move a station where hunters bring dead deer to be weighed and tagged so it won't be within view of children who use a nearby playground.

Police Chief Thomas Stockwell had complained about the deer check-in site at George Leland VFW Post, saying kids at the playground and customers buying Christmas trees from Boy Scouts working on the same lot shouldn't have to see the deer carcasses.

On Tuesday afternoon, Stockwell met with Thomas O'Shea, assistant director of wildlife for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and the state agreed to move to deer check-in sight to an area in the rear of the VFW building, according to Stockwell and O'Shea.

Hunters are required to bring the deer to the checkpoints. The state uses the information gathered there to track and research the deer population.

The Upton check-in site is open once more this year, on Saturday, the last day of shotgun season.

O'Shea said there are numerous other check-in sites around the state that are visible to the public, and the state has not received complaints about any of them.

Jack Saucier, a trustee at the VFW post, said the check-in site wasn't an issue last year, the first year it was located at the VFW, because the cold weather kept the playgrounds empty. Saucier added children this year didn't seem upset by the deer.

"Most of them come over, they want to touch the deer," he said. "It's like a learning experience."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/ma...deer_weigh_in_site_out_of_view_of_playground/
 
I don't know but if I made my kiddies out for a day of fun I wouldn't necessarily want them to see that so close to Christmas and all. There are things kids don't need to see and know about abruptly.
 
Well what happens now if the kids decide to walk around the back? Will they move it again? At some point, what can you do if they want a peek? I know when I was a kid if an adult tried to hide something from me, I'd damn sure want to know what was because it must be really neat...otherwise why would they be trying to hide it from me? [laugh]
 
JellyFish said:
Well what happens now if the kids decide to walk around the back? Will they move it again? At some point, what can you do if they want a peek? I know when I was a kid if an adult tried to hide something from me, I'd damn sure want to know what was because it must be really neat...otherwise why would they be trying to hide it from me? [laugh]
Click to expand...
Like your parents having sex?[thinking]
 
JonJ said:
I don't know but if I made my kiddies out for a day of fun I wouldn't necessarily want them to see that so close to Christmas and all. There are things kids don't need to see and know about abruptly.
Click to expand...
"Daddy... is that Rudolph?"

OTOH... they gotta learn sometime that those Quarter Pounder came from a living thing... (even if it's not a deer)
 
dwarven1 said:
"Daddy... is that Rudolph?"

OTOH... they gotta learn sometime that those Quarter Pounder came from a living thing... (even if it's not a deer)
Click to expand...
Correct but on my terms. Like the sex talk, or taking a kid to a wake. There's a time and place for everything.
Why put the station next to the park? There are/were other places.
Just common sense, that's all.
 
Don't look at me, I don't even hunt deer at this point. I suppose I could bring a squirrel down there to be weighed though. Can you imagine the look on the guy's face when I show up with a squirrel draped across (okay well stuck on I guess) my car's hood? [laugh]

Wildlife guy: Um...why are you bringing a squirrel to be weighed?

Jellyfish: Well this is the freaking weigh station isn't it? So weigh the damn thing!

Wildlife guy: But it's a squirrel...

JellyFish: Shut up, you squirrelphobic asswipe! If you don't want a lawsuit for anti-squirrel bigotry coming down on your ass, you'll weigh that thing right now!

Wildlife guy: Oh brother...fine...we'll weigh the stupid thing. <giggles>

Jellyfish: You're damn right you will!

<JellyFish walks over to a group of deer hunters, who are dumbfounded, having witnessed the exchange>

JellyFish: What's up guys? You like my kill? He's awesome eh?

Deer hunter: It's a squirrel dude...

JellyFish: Damn right it is! You got a problem with that you little punk?

Deer hunter: You're a nut, JellyFish. An absolute nut. You know that?

JellyFish: You're just jealous of my kill. Any dumbass can kill a deer but it takes a REAL man to get a squirrel! [angry]

Deer hunter: Go back home and take your meds.

JellyFish: Squirrelphobic a**h***! You want to throw down with me? Punk! Yeah, I didn't think so. Wimp!

<JellyFish takes his squirrel back from the wildlife guy, proudly mounts it on the hood of his car again and zooms off into the sunset... >

Bandit said:
Lets hope no jokers ( like JellyFish ) shoot a Deer and paint it's nose red before bringing it to the Check Station
Bob
[rofl]
Click to expand...
 
It's a good way to desensitize the young ones. The facts are that parents only teach their children what they, themselves want their kids to know. Now a bunch of children have been exposed to deer hunting. Parents can talk to their kids about it anyway they want. But now their is a large group of children who are now aware that you can hunt and kill a deer.

Maybe some of those kids will develop an inteterest in what they saw and maybe some of them will want to hunt when they are old enough in spite of what their leftist parents think.
 
A shovel with a longer handle please, so these idiots can bury their heads just a little deepr into the sand.

God forbid that anyone ever find out that people hunt animals or that it is tracked, regulated and managed by professionals.

I'm sure that a fourth grade sex education class in their schools wouldn't run into as much opposition.

Pathetic!!!!!
 
JellyFish said:
JellyFish: Shut up, you squirrelphobic asswipe! If you don't want a lawsuit for anti-squirrel bigotry coming down on your ass, you'll weigh that thing right now!
Click to expand...
Thanks, JF. You beat me to it. As I was reading the above I just said quietly to myself "Jellyfish is off his meds again...". Then I read this:
JellyFish said:
Deer hunter: Go back home and take your meds.
Click to expand...
Glad to see that you realize it. That's the first step to recovery. [smile]
 
JonJ said:
Correct but on my terms. Like the sex talk, or taking a kid to a wake. There's a time and place for everything.
Why put the station next to the park? There are/were other places.
Just common sense, that's all.
Click to expand...

Common sense, common courtesy and manners go a long way. Had both parties exercised a little of any of the three, this story wouldn't have made it into the news. They just would have reached an agreement sooner.
 
The use of the lot was donated by the local VFW to the state. It is located conveniently for public access and most importantly, it didn't cost the state or locals any money to operate the station there.

Some people,(those who complained about it) need to come to some realization about the world around them and recognize that they cannot control everything they want to. They are pathetic whiners who want the world to change the way it operates to suit their myopic view of things. Sorry....thats just not the way things go.

Every checking station I've ever seen in Maine was outside a general store in full plain view of anyone passing by on the road in town. What is the big deal about somehow needing to conceal the carcass of a dead deer? People openly travel the highways with deer strapped to their bumpers, hoods, roofs, in the backs of pickups. Are they next going to require that they be concealed while travelling on the highways? They need to get a grip and shut their f***ing mouths and let other people live their lives as they see fit, even if it doesn't agree with their idiotic view of things.
 

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