Deer hunting has helped balance Brown County State Park's ecosystem

The ground at Brown County State Park was scorched earth in 1989, the herbal layer devastated by a hungry and overcrowded herd of deer, gobbling up any signs of plant life. The environment was in dire straits, but Eagleman, a Department of Natural Resources employee, listened as animal rights activists decried the notion of allowing hunters to kill innocent does and bucks.

The park’s task force, similar to the one in Bloomington, deliberated on the issue for more than a year. But all along, Eagleman and other members knew what had to be done. Sterilization was too expensive. Reintroducing natural predators, like the red wolf, was a public relations nightmare. In reality, allowing PETA members to air their grievances and their best intentions was just a step toward a much-needed hunt.