LIGHTFIELD HYBRED SLUGS:  SUCCESS IN SUBURBAN DEER CULLING 

BACKGROUND

During the late 1980’s New Jersey suburbs began to experience large increases in the numbers of white-tailed deer.  This increase resulted in the over-browsing of native vegetation preventing natural regeneration of the forest, destruction of residential gardens and landscaping, high numbers of deer related motor vehicle accidents, and the spread of Lyme disease.  Deer are the most common hosts of ticks infected with the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, and humans often get it by walking through brush in shorts or from pets who are allowed to run free in overgrown areas frequented by deer.

The over population of deer was caused by habitat destruction and elimination of natural predators. The building of housing developments, highways and malls added to the problem.  The fact that most suburban communities enacted laws against hunting and the discharge of firearms, contributed as well.  The growth of the white-tailed deer population became particularly alarming by 1992, especially in the Watchung Reservation,   a 2,000-acre Union County, New Jersey park encircled by five communities.

Letters and phone calls from hundreds of county residents alerted the county to the serious problem of white-tailed deer proliferation.  Their concerns included  hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage, fear of Lyme disease, impairment of their ability to use their yards for gardening and recreation, and the hundreds of deer related motor vehicle accidents.  The most alarming reports came from county staff who expressed dire concern for the Watchung Reservation itself, where much of the under story had been eaten away, seriously threatening the survival of plant and other animal communities.

After raucous public hearings and extensive debate, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders authorized a controlled hunt as the first step in reducing the number of white-tailed deer in and around the Watchung Reservation.  In 1995 New Jersey implemented it’s first Sharpshooting Program.  The program followed the guidelines of the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife’s Community-based Plan for the Management of Suburban Deer Population, utilizing designated agents selected by the county.  All aspects of the shooting program were crafted to ensure that deer would be removed in a manner that was safe for program participants, park users, and local residents, while at the same time ensuring that the deer were harvested in a humane manner.

All agents, including myself, were carefully selected from among licensed hunters and screened by means of a proficiency test.  The agents were required to complete an orientation course stressing safety, program objectives, rules and ethics.  Agents were also trained to maximize their chances of making one shot kills so as to  prevent extended suffering for the animal and reduce the need to pursue a wounded deer onto local roads and property adjacent to nearby residences.

All Agents used 12-Gauge shotguns with telescopic sights.  Shotguns equipped in this manner and loaded with slugs were considered to be the safest, most effective firearm for deer control.  Their restricted lethal range, excellent knockdown power, and minimal potential for over-penetration and ricochet, made them an excellent choice.  Shooting was from fixed positions in portable tree stands.  Ideally, agents would take shots from less than 50 yards with 30 yards being the preferred distance to increase the likelihood of making a one shot kill.

In 1995, I had an old shotgun custom rifled to shoot sabot slugs, and purchased a mixed quantity of different name brand slugs to test my “new” shotgun.  Much to my surprise, they all shot fairly well, averaging two inch groups at 50 yards.  One brand in particular, Lightfield Hybred, which I had never heard of before, performed better than the rest, cutting overlapping holes on the target at 50 yards.  I was excited with the results, but wondered how these “new” slugs would perform on deer.  During the 1996 Watchung Reservation hunt, I had the opportunity to try out the Lightfields, and the results were encouraging: 90% of the deer I shot dropped instantly and the slugs were recovered from the animals.  These results generated great interest amongst the agents, leading county officials to undertake a slug proficiency study during the following year’s hunt.

FIELD TRIALS

In 1997 the county attempted to test whether or not the Lightfield Hybred brand slug was any more effective than other brands, for use in their culling programs. Data was collected from each deer killed, including the brand of ammunition used, whether the deer dropped immediately after being shot , and whether or not the slug passed through the deer or was retained in the animal, thereby preventing ricochet and over-penetration as well as ensuring that the total energy generated by the slug would be absorbed by the deer, knocking it to the ground, and preventing escape.

These findings are important considerations for a program that is carried out in a public park on the fringes of residential areas as well as during any sport hunting activity for that matter.  Not only is it more humane to have the deer killed instantly and drop to the ground, but it is important to minimize the possibility of the general public seeing a wounded animal.  Sometimes a mortally wounded deer can run dozens of yards in the seconds between being shot and expiring.

Agents provided their own shotguns and purchased their own ammunition.  A total of eight different slug brands were used and tested.

THE RESULTS

The results of any study involving ammunition performance during field trials must be prefaced with the statement that the effect of each slug shot is a function  not only of the brand used, but of the skill of the shooter and resultant shot placement.  Nevertheless, the data shows significant benefits from the use of Lightfield Hybred slugs.

After a three-year study of slug performance and hundreds of deer killed, the technical results are as follows:  Seventy-eight percent (78%) of deer shot with Lightfield Hybred slugs dropped in their tracks, compared to only forty-nine percent (49%) of deer shot with any other brand.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of slugs were recovered from deer that were shot with Lightfield Hybred slugs. By contrast, in deer that were shot with any of seven other brands, only ten percent (10%) were retained in the animals.

The number of deer killed per agent varied considerably.  Of course, in many cases, there was a direct correlation between the number of deer killed by an agent and the number of hours he dedicated to the program.  However, the productivity of particular hunters usually depended on the agent’s hunting knowledge, skill and patience.  Of the thirty agents the county used annually, two agents in particular; my future business partner and myself; killed forty-six percent (46%) of all deer taken over a three-year period.  Our proficiency at culling deer influenced the principal state game biologist overseeing the program, to recommend that we start our own business.  At that time, the state of New Jersey was being inundated with phone calls from communities wanting to implement similar programs.  However the state did not have the funds or the manpower to respond effectively.

In 1999, Deer Management Systems, Inc. was incorporated.  We soon began to receive inquiries from several local communities about our new business.

When we meet with town officials, we always pointedly reiterate that hunting is the most cost effective means of controlling the over-population of free roaming white-tailed deer.  However, we realize that sport hunting is not always practical.

CONCLUSION

We have since then successfully completed over thirty-four programs and killed thousands of deer using only Lightfield Hybred slugs.  Occasionally we are asked by one of our agents to try out a new brand of slug on the market. Yet, each time we do so, we always revert back to the Lightfields.  We have demonstrated that controlled deer hunting can be performed safely in highly populated areas using the methology we have developed over the years.  And, we have even caused some towns to open their lands to hunting.

Nearly fifty years of experience hunting white-tailed deer, my professional background in metallurgy, and the results of the previous field studies confirm my belief that Lightfield Hybred slugs perform better than other brands for two main reasons:

1.     Lightfield Hybred slugs are near full bore diameter (.62 caliber). By contrast, most other brands are only .50 caliber.  This is immediately evident on the first trip to the range, by the large holes produced by the Lightfields on the target.

2.     Lightfield Hybred slugs are made of pure soft lead, resulting in maximum expansion.  To minimize slug distortion during flight, some manufacturers add small amounts of antimony or tin to harden the slugs, thereby increasing the slug’s accuracy.  Lightfield obtains better results with their unique sabot and wad design without sacrificing expansion on impact.

In conclusion, if one has the time and enjoys the art of tracking wounded game, then any brand of slug on the market will do the job.  If having a wounded animal travel into residential areas, cross public roads or end up on someone else’s posted land is a consideration, then I would highly recommend trying the Lightfield Hybred slug.

Carl A. Carvalho – V.P.
Deer Management Systems, Inc.
carl.dms@verizon.net