To the Editor:

I read the article in The Tidewater News (“Hunting coyotes with rifles to resurface,” Feb. 24). It seems bad ideas never die in Southampton County.

Why is it against the law to hunt with high-powered rifles in Southampton County? It is extremely dangerous!

I live in Sebrell. Our entire community is surrounded by flat fields and forests as are most residences in Southampton County.

The bullets from these rifles know no boundary. These bullets will travel thousands of feet if not a mile or more.

The question is what would be gained by putting ourselves and our families in danger by using these rifles? Absolutely nothing!

Attempts at eradicating coyotes have been unsuccessful. If you shoot one, another will replace it. As long as there is an abundant food supply, their numbers will continue to increase.

I definitely have sympathy for farmers’ concerns about their livestock.

As an avid hunter I have concerns about the adverse effect coyotes are having on the deer herd and other wild game. Coyotes are killing a large number of fawns.

I refer you to an article at www.westerveltwildlife.com. This article documents the impact that coyotes have on survival of fawns and the failed attempts at eradicating coyotes.

All this being said, how can we safely try to control the coyote population? I have a few ideas.

• Encourage hunters to kill coyotes by legal means at every opportunity.

• Allow unlimited trapping of coyotes with landowner permission.

• Encourage hunt clubs to hunt coyotes year round with dogs.

I believe for any successful control program, a bounty would be a must. A source of funding would have to be determined by the board of supervisors.

In closing, I strongly encourage anyone who agrees with me to call your supervisor and ask him to vote “no” to high-powered rifles in Southampton County.

John Burchett
Courtland