“Deer Management” is a Deceitful Term for Mass Killing

By Jeannette Louise Smith

"Deer Management" Blood Money

Euphemisms are frequently used by state and federal wildlife management officials, local governments, hunting and trapping organizations, and others to deceitfully characterize and justify trapping, baiting, and killing animals by bow-hunting and sharpshooting.


The term Deer Management is widespread across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The general public widely misunderstands and is often confused by the euphemism Deer Management.


Deer Management has replaced the term Deer Cull. The bottom line is:


Deer Management and Deer Cull are the same: the systematic and selective slaughter of deer.


My community of Arlington, Virginia is no different from any other locality across the world. The Arlington County Government uses the term Deer Management to communicate and assert, in a falsely constructive and digestible manner, that killing deer to manage populations and protect our ecosystem is acceptable, fair, decent, and the definitive solution.


The best and most effective Deer-Environment Strategy, implements innovative, humane, science-based, non-lethal methods that protect deer, humans, and the ecosystem.


However, some Arlington, Virginia residents believe that the surgical sterilization of female deer or chemical contraception is too costly (exceeds the budget) and not cost effective (the benefits do not justify the expense).


They believe the Arlington County Government's lies that killing deer by sharpshooting deer is the only answer.


Killing deer leads to a never-ending cycle of violence.

Some examples of the Blood Money spent by the Arlington County Government on Deer Management, the yearly systematic slaughter and mass killing of deer, include:

  • Steward Green LLC: Deer Drone Survey: $48,000 (March 2021)
  • Spring Deer Density Study: $23,800.00 (June 2021)
  • Wholesale Bannerz Signage: $994.03 (May 2023)
  • Steward Green LLC Deer Drone Survey: $34,642 (March 2025)
  • FY 2026 Deer Management Budget: $151,000
  • Wildlife Resources LLC Sharpshooting Contract (Wes Runion): $74,0000 (November 09, 2025)
  • FY 2027 Proposed Deer Management Budget: $71,000
  • This Blood Money does NOT include:
  • The salary of The Arlington County Board: Matt de Ferranti, Maureen Coffey, Takis P. Karantonis, Susan Cunningham, and Julius "JD" Spain, Sr.
  • The salary of Arlington County Manager, Mark Schwartz 
  • The salary of the Arlington Deer Management staff: John Marlin (Assistant Parks & Natural Resources Division Chief) and Alonso Abugattas (Arlington Natural Resources Manager)
  • The cost of food security staff, deer meat testing, processing, and distribution
  • The cost of vegetative and deer browse surveys
  • The labor of Arlington Police Department Captain Jason K Bryk, the APD Officers, and the Arlington Park Rangers who guarded the deer killing sites in our local parks that surround Arlington neighborhoods
  • The time investment of Alexandra Lombard (Wildlife Health Coordinator, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources), Gary Arrington (Director, Hunters for the Hungry), Tomeka D. Sherman (Procurement Officer), Dr. Sharon T. Lewis (Purchasing Agent) Sindy Escobar (Project Officer), Arlington Police Department Officers, Arlington Park Rangers, and Charles Meng (CEO, Arlington Food Assistance Center)
  • The many work and volunteer hours of the Arlington Regional Master Naturalists, Arlington Forest and Natural Resources Commission, Arlington Parks and Recreation Commission, Arlington Natural Resources Joint Advisory Group, and many other people and organizations spent discussing and demanding lethal Deer Management

The only money spent on Non-lethal Deer Management includes:

  • Home Depot 25 lbs. Deer Repellent Granular Pail: $2,639.76 (July 2024)
  • Deer Busters Fencing: $5,552.13 (September 2025)
  • Home Depot Deer Repellent Concentrated Spray: $1430.64 (January 26)

The time has come for Arlington, Virginia residents and citizens across the globe to oppose Lethal Deer Management.


We must unite to preserve and protect both deer and the environment with humane, non-lethal, science-based strategies that promote peaceful coexistence with deer.


WATCH: “Veterinary Care and Procedures in Deer Surgical Sterilization” by Dr. Newman, DVM at the Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control conference.


NEVER AGAIN!

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“Stop the Horrific Deer Kill Program in Arlington VA!”