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Urban bow hunting broached to Council as deer nuisance starts to grow
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By Kris Hilgedick
khil@newstribune.com
The best way to prevent a deer problem in the city limits may be to expand bow hunting, a Missouri Department of Conservation employee told the Jefferson City Council on Monday night.
Wildlife biologist John George noted deer pose a safety concern for drivers and can become a nuisance when they eat neighbors' shrubs and trees.
“It can be a controversial subject, but I don't think it is in Jefferson City,” he said. “You don't want to get to the point when you have deer lovers and deer haters arguing over a park in town.”
George believes city officials can avoid strained relations between groups by offering a variety of solutions. The one he mentioned the most was bow hunting.
He noted Columbia permits bow hunting - including on parks and other publicly owned areas - with a few rules and caveats. He said Columbia officials ask hunters to park in certain places and they limit the dates of the archery season. They also ask all hunters who use public lands to attend safety meetings.
The Missouri archery season runs from Sept. 15 to Jan. 15, but George said city officials can shorten that period to meet their needs.
Mayor John Landwehr wanted to know: “Do we have a deer problem?”
George replied: “Not the extent Columbia has.”
He noted the first time a homeowner sees a deer, they think it's a fascinating experience. By year six or seven, the novelty has worn off and homeowners tend to perceive deer as a nuisance.
Currently, Jefferson City ordinance limits firearms hunting to 10 acres and bow hunting to five acres. (The land also has be zoned for rural use to be legal.)
George didn't see a problem with allowing owners of any lot size to bow hunt. He didn't think very many people would chose to bow hunt in settings with narrow, small lots and crowded houses, simply because deer don't congregate there.
Fifth Ward Councilman Dan Klindt said some neighbors might fear a felled deer might run into a neighbor's yard, but he finds such fears unfounded. “Deer seek the wood to hide when shot,” he noted.
George said other alternatives to hunting are netting and repellents. But he noted homeowners tire of those methods.
About two years ago, the Parks and Recreation Commission considered allowing bow hunting in parks, but decided against the idea. Director Bill Lockwood suggested the commission would be open to reviewing the topic.
George said it can be difficult to collect data on car accidents; many drivers report their accidents to insurance adjusters, not law enforcement.
“Statistics aren't very reliable,” he conceded.
George sees urban bow hunting as a way to keep deer population numbers in check. “If you can say, ‘We're doing what we can to lower deer problems,' it goes a long way,” he encouraged.
The council agreed to send the topic to their Public Safety Committee for further consideration.
Wildlife biologist John George noted deer pose a safety concern for drivers and can become a nuisance when they eat neighbors' shrubs and trees.
“It can be a controversial subject, but I don't think it is in Jefferson City,” he said. “You don't want to get to the point when you have deer lovers and deer haters arguing over a park in town.”
George believes city officials can avoid strained relations between groups by offering a variety of solutions. The one he mentioned the most was bow hunting.
He noted Columbia permits bow hunting - including on parks and other publicly owned areas - with a few rules and caveats. He said Columbia officials ask hunters to park in certain places and they limit the dates of the archery season. They also ask all hunters who use public lands to attend safety meetings.
The Missouri archery season runs from Sept. 15 to Jan. 15, but George said city officials can shorten that period to meet their needs.
Mayor John Landwehr wanted to know: “Do we have a deer problem?”
George replied: “Not the extent Columbia has.”
He noted the first time a homeowner sees a deer, they think it's a fascinating experience. By year six or seven, the novelty has worn off and homeowners tend to perceive deer as a nuisance.
Currently, Jefferson City ordinance limits firearms hunting to 10 acres and bow hunting to five acres. (The land also has be zoned for rural use to be legal.)
George didn't see a problem with allowing owners of any lot size to bow hunt. He didn't think very many people would chose to bow hunt in settings with narrow, small lots and crowded houses, simply because deer don't congregate there.
Fifth Ward Councilman Dan Klindt said some neighbors might fear a felled deer might run into a neighbor's yard, but he finds such fears unfounded. “Deer seek the wood to hide when shot,” he noted.
George said other alternatives to hunting are netting and repellents. But he noted homeowners tire of those methods.
About two years ago, the Parks and Recreation Commission considered allowing bow hunting in parks, but decided against the idea. Director Bill Lockwood suggested the commission would be open to reviewing the topic.
George said it can be difficult to collect data on car accidents; many drivers report their accidents to insurance adjusters, not law enforcement.
“Statistics aren't very reliable,” he conceded.
George sees urban bow hunting as a way to keep deer population numbers in check. “If you can say, ‘We're doing what we can to lower deer problems,' it goes a long way,” he encouraged.
The council agreed to send the topic to their Public Safety Committee for further consideration.
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Mac1974 wrote on May 14, 2008 8:36 PM:
You're a funny guy. "