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Feb. 02, 1966 - The Deer That Had To Die: The herds of deer in the New Forest have to be thinned out every year in their own interests. And death comes quickly, humanely. Actually, the deer in the pictures was a victim of his own folly. He was shot because he was destroying young trees. and the rest of the herd had to be discouraged from following suit. Usually only the aged, sick or weak members of herd are killed when herds are called. The marksman was Fred Courtier, the Forestry Commission Game Warden for England and Wales. His job is to train stalkers, and he says that killing deer is the least pleasant part of the work. The stalkers are now entering the counting season, when herds are assessed and decisions taken on how many must die. Mr. Courtier, bearded, and 38 years old, explained yesterday: The number of deer in the forest would increase by a third if we didn't control them every year. Hards are culled for their own protection as well as the preservation of trees. Otherwise they would eat all the available food, damage crops and young trees - and then starve to death. Stalkers count - and shoot - from a perch in a tree or from specially-built high seats 15ft. above the ground. This way they cannot be scented by the deer and if a bullet should pass through an animal it would embed itself harmlessly in the ground.Victims, apart from the tree-destroyers, are selected for death according to the condition of their antlers. For if a deer has been injured by a car or a gun, the antler on side opposite the injury often grows deformed. Antlers too, indicate age. Mr. Courtier chooses his team of stalkers with care. Photo shows Two stalkers remove the dead

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

15ft According Actually Antler Antlers Apart Assessed Available Bearded Bullet Cannot Chooses Commission Counting Courtier Crops Decisions Deformed Destroying Didnt Discouraged Entering Explained Folly Forestry Grows Harmlessly Herd Herds Increase Indicate Interests Itself Least Marksman Often Opposite Otherwise Perch Pleasant Preservation Quickly Remove Says Scented Seats Selected Stalkers Starve Thinned Usually Warden Weak

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