I was disappointed to see the misleading, and I believe irresponsible, headline on the recent "Coyotes flourish at the expense of deer" article.

A more accurate headline would have been, "Timber companies flourish at the expense of deer."

The problem with northern Maine's deer herd was caused by poor logging practices (liquidation of deer yards) and poor management (failure to close deer hunting in the effected areas).

The current crisis was years in the making and we should have seen it coming. Massive predator-control efforts as suggested by former state deer biologist Gerry Lavigne are not the answer.

In fact, it was exactly this (wolf eradication) that made room for the coyote in the first place. Wolves are the single most effective means for keeping coyotes in check.

Predator control didn't work then and it will not work now.

All this will do is kill a bunch of coyotes, take the focus off the real issues and give Maine another black eye as it continues to perpetuate turn-of-the-century predator-phobia.

In the end, we will have as many coyotes as we do today and no more deer.

Maine's deer herd would be far better served if Lavigne and the folks at Sportsman's Alliance of Maine would turn their focus toward the true enemy -- their friends in the timber industry who have destroyed the deer habitat and state game managers (current and former) who look for easy solutions to a complex problem.

Bob Mallard, owner

Kennebec River Outfitters

Madison

www.kennebecriveroutfitters.com