The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife should take a head count of the remaining deer left in area deeryards this spring. The cold temperatures and deep snow during this winter should be ideal for the coyotes to kill thousands of deer drained of stored fat and energy. The small deer are the first to be eaten alive. Then comes the pregnant does, too weak to run in the deep snow. As the deer travel by using trails, the coyotes make good use of the same trails to catch deer.

Maine wildlife belongs to all Maine people. It’s time for the commissioner of Fisheries and Wildlife to face the facts and continue the coyote-snaring program.

There are fish and wildlife conservation clubs in Vermont and Maine holding coyote derbies. The members of these clubs understand the importance of controlling the coyote population. The Maine Fisheries and Wildlife commissioners should support this activity, not ridicule the derby sponsors.

It’s time for the state of Maine to take a stand against the anti-snaring, anti-hunting and anti-trapping groups.

Richard A. McInnis, Lewiston