I have a place (family farm ) and we had no deer when I was growing up. Or turkeys. The game dept. brought in deer back in the 80's and I brought in Rio Grande turkeys. They both thrive here now. I plant plots and do feeders as needed. Do coyote control. I am 59 this year and have only killed one deer on that property and not over a plot or feeder. Have had many a youth out to kill a deer there mainly to control doe numbers. They are all conservation tools and that's the name of the game. Stewardship....
Having said that when it is time to thin populations I have zero qualms about shooting over a plot or feeder because killin' is killin'. Hunting is between you and the game and those skills are taught here along with responsible conservation. So there is "hunting" and then there is "harvesting" both are needed.....
