Date?

To The Editor:

This Springafter returning home following a brief vacation, I was anxiouslylooking forward to admiring my tulip garden that I had planted oneyear ago, and which I had delighted in viewing last year. This year,unfortunately, things were different and only one tulip was seendisplaying its charms; all the others had been partially eaten by avisiting deer. In addition, all of the tender new shoots of my yewswere also eaten and look sick unattractive, and as though their veryexistence was threatened. One of my neighbors also noted similarfindings in her yard and was equally distraught.

I'm promptedto ask -- has the time not come to extend our deer season? If thedeer's nutritional needs in rural Manchester and its environs are nolonger adequate, or if their numbers are now out of control, is itnot time to intervene and control their propagation by extending ourhunting season?

Deer are notan endangered species, and controlling their population would be intheir best interest as well as preserving our gardens andlandscaping.

Charles E. Jacobson Jr., M.D.

45 Wyllys St.

Manchester, CT