spectr17
09-07-2001, 12:38 PM
Archery hunt devised to thin deer herd advances.
BY TAMMY J. OSEID Pioneer Press
Up to 10 deer in one Burnsville park would be targeted in an archery hunt under a phased-in plan that the city's parks and natural resources commission recommended on a 5-1 vote Tuesday night. The City Council will make the final decision Sept. 17.
The hunt would be limited to the 53-acre Wolk Park this fall but would likely expand to West Terrace Oaks, Cam Ram and Judicial parks next year. Archery hunts at Black Dog, Alimagnet and Crystal West parks, as well as sharpshooting in other areas, could be considered later. "We wanted to start small," said natural resources director Terry Schultz.
The committee aims to reduce the city's deer population to about 146, which means at least 166 Burnsville deer would eventually be killed. Those numbers and the methods used to control the deer population would be reviewed annually. Citing cost, the commission did not recommend trapping and killing deer, which had been included in previous plans.
Separate commission recommendations included a ban prohibiting residents from intentionally feeding deer at any time and a project studying the environmental effects of deer browsing in Terrace Oaks Park.
The commission recommended lowering the penalty for feeding deer from a misdemeanor to a petty misdemeanor with a maximum $300 fine and no jail time.
White Bear Township also on Tuesday authorized two deer hunts to kill up to 20 deer this fall. The town board allowed hunts for the first time last year, also igniting controversy in the Ramsey County community.
Residents attending the Burnsville meetings about the plan since June have been split on the need for a deer hunt. Some environmentalists, including Paul Wood and hunter Scott Vohnoutka, say the plan is necessary to control the herd. A coalition from southwest Burnsville is among residents who have vocally opposed the plan since the beginning, saying the council is pushing it through without considering alternate options.
Others, like Tammi Bernard, said the deer herd needs to be thinned to prevent environmental destruction but think the plan kills too many deer too quickly.
Mark Bowen was the only commissioner to vote against the plan. "In my opinion, this isn't management, this is slaughter," he said. "It's absurd that as intelligent, thinking people, we cannot come up with a plan without killing half to two-thirds of the herd."
Other commissioners, like Paula O'Keefe, said that although she could never personally kill a deer, not approving a plan to do so would destroy too many plants and other animals. "I like to see the deer, but I like to see ovenbirds too," she said.
Tammy J. Oseid, who covers Apple Valley, Burnsville and Lakeville, can be reached at toseid@pioneerpress.com or (651) 228-2171.
UP NEXT
The Burnsville City Council will act on the deer-management plan at its Sept. 17 meeting.
BY TAMMY J. OSEID Pioneer Press
Up to 10 deer in one Burnsville park would be targeted in an archery hunt under a phased-in plan that the city's parks and natural resources commission recommended on a 5-1 vote Tuesday night. The City Council will make the final decision Sept. 17.
The hunt would be limited to the 53-acre Wolk Park this fall but would likely expand to West Terrace Oaks, Cam Ram and Judicial parks next year. Archery hunts at Black Dog, Alimagnet and Crystal West parks, as well as sharpshooting in other areas, could be considered later. "We wanted to start small," said natural resources director Terry Schultz.
The committee aims to reduce the city's deer population to about 146, which means at least 166 Burnsville deer would eventually be killed. Those numbers and the methods used to control the deer population would be reviewed annually. Citing cost, the commission did not recommend trapping and killing deer, which had been included in previous plans.
Separate commission recommendations included a ban prohibiting residents from intentionally feeding deer at any time and a project studying the environmental effects of deer browsing in Terrace Oaks Park.
The commission recommended lowering the penalty for feeding deer from a misdemeanor to a petty misdemeanor with a maximum $300 fine and no jail time.
White Bear Township also on Tuesday authorized two deer hunts to kill up to 20 deer this fall. The town board allowed hunts for the first time last year, also igniting controversy in the Ramsey County community.
Residents attending the Burnsville meetings about the plan since June have been split on the need for a deer hunt. Some environmentalists, including Paul Wood and hunter Scott Vohnoutka, say the plan is necessary to control the herd. A coalition from southwest Burnsville is among residents who have vocally opposed the plan since the beginning, saying the council is pushing it through without considering alternate options.
Others, like Tammi Bernard, said the deer herd needs to be thinned to prevent environmental destruction but think the plan kills too many deer too quickly.
Mark Bowen was the only commissioner to vote against the plan. "In my opinion, this isn't management, this is slaughter," he said. "It's absurd that as intelligent, thinking people, we cannot come up with a plan without killing half to two-thirds of the herd."
Other commissioners, like Paula O'Keefe, said that although she could never personally kill a deer, not approving a plan to do so would destroy too many plants and other animals. "I like to see the deer, but I like to see ovenbirds too," she said.
Tammy J. Oseid, who covers Apple Valley, Burnsville and Lakeville, can be reached at toseid@pioneerpress.com or (651) 228-2171.
UP NEXT
The Burnsville City Council will act on the deer-management plan at its Sept. 17 meeting.