Urban deer problems in St. Louis area

[Johner]

Thought you all might find this interesting.  I was somewhat ammused by the option of 'sharp shooters' vs. archery.  What are they considering a sharpshooter. And to have a 'safety officer' approve each shot, sounds kinda silly if you ask me.  
 http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/1BDE8CE8CDF26672862574B000621BC9?OpenDocument

[Ray Hammond]

someone in the St Louis area has a window of opportunity to start an urban deer reduction program....model it after  www.swmnga.org  we will provide all the details, nuances, etc to whomever wants to do it....but get it started now to deal with this issue and you will find lots of doors open to you.

If I can help, callme at 678-300-2883

[TRAP]

There is already an Urban deer hunting group established in the St. Louis area, but for them to do any good they must have access. I believe the St. Louis area group is headed up by the Missouri Bowhunter's Council.

The problem in Town and Country is the Deer Task Force which was referred to in the article is basically a group of anti hunters that are looking for a "majic bullet" where deer arent killed but their numbers are somehow reduced.  I know, good luck with all of that.  

Communities that consider sharp shooting as a humane alternative to hunting are mis informed and it's up to us to keep them educated.  Sharpshooting is often referred to as a controlled hunt.  That could not be further from the truth.  Shooting deer at night with a light over a bait pile is a "deer Kill" plain and simple.  Communities like it because it's neat and tidy.  The end result is the same. Deer die.  I personally like the idea of hunting them with archery tacle and firearms where conditions permit.  

It's our responsibility as hunters to educate city councils and deer task forces that the approval of sharp shooting devalues white-tailed deer and reduces them to vermin status.  When citizens are allowed to pursue them with legal weapons they have value.  

As hunters we need to be active within our communities to preserve hunting and to break down those ordinances that prohibit hunting.  More importantly, once those walls come down it's up to us get the job done by harvesting antlerless deer.

Trap

[Shaun]

There are 25 communities in Iowa that have urban deer archery and one that uses sharpshooters, you guessed it... YUPPIE city council in Iowa City, IA. They wanted to use "birth control salt blocks" (which fortunately don't exist), then they wanted to humanely capture and move the deer - DNR told them that most of the deer would die from stress, and finally settled on sharpshooters. They hire White Buffalo Co out of NY state that charges them I believe $300 per dead dear. Shoot them at night with 243's over corn piles, out of pick up trucks - non of which is legal hunting in Iowa. The claim they have to shoot bucks too. Costs the city several HUNDRED THOUSAND dollars a year after all the city staff to pick up the deer (WB won't touch them except to take some trophy horns) and to have them butchered for the food bank. The neighbor city Coralville, IA (where I participate in the hunt) has archery in town and they have not had an incident or complaint of ANY kind in the 9 years its been running. Having hunters in the woods is much more effective at driving the deer out than the mass slaughter in Iowa City according to the winter arieal counts.

Contact the Iowa DNR for details and information on how they work these hunts. Wildlife biologist in my area is named Tim Thompson, he can be found through the DNR website.

[vermonster13]

Bet the other 24 cities turn a profit on it too Shaun.

[GrnMtnTradNut]

Give me a few dozen arrows and family's in need of some protien rich venison and I will take care of all the deer problem needed, it should be done with bow hunting, for the sake of saftey and added sportsman oppurtunity.

[Ray Hammond]

we donate all our venison to the food bank system here...its a win-win.

Unfortunately, White Buffalo cannot justify the taking of bucks except for "horn greed" as it only takes one buck to breed every doe out there...be it a spike or a monster...if they have a two pointer left in town he'll eventually get around to all the does....

[TRAP]

I agree GrnMtnTradNut, but sayiong it here is preaching to the choir.  As responsible bowhunters we need to be active in our communities and affect policy by voicing our opinions at City Council Meetings and serving on committees or whatever it takes to get the right decisions made.

If we are complacent, decisions will be made for us by mis-informed politicians and those that influence them.  

WB is a money grubbing swat team wannbee, but he saw a niche and filled it.  I have to believe hunting could have worked everywhere WB has practiced sharpshooting but he wasnt headed off at the pass by hunters.   I look at his victories as opportunities lost for bowhunters.  We gotta get busy.

Trap

[John3]

Sub-division city people will not understand. They are so removed from nature in everyday life. Their animal control is learned from the Disney channel.

I was raised close enough to STL that I've had to deal with these types most of my life. Thank God I had a 50 mile buffer zone growing up.

[TRAP]

There are responsible bowhunters living within those communities and within those subdivisions.  

I've been involved with several Urban deer control efforts because of my job and because I have a vested interest in the outcome.

Within a community, it starts when enough citizens complain that deer are causing damage to property and hitting deer with cars.  Those complaints usually end up at city hall where a City Manager is left to devise a plan.  He/she then forms a committee (deer task force) to address the deer issue and bring reccomnedations before the City Council.  

It is at this level hunter input is most important,  The deer task force often has representatives from the local police department, sometimes a sporting goods store owner, a few representatives from subdivisions that are experiencing problems, maybe a wildlife law enforcement officer, and other concerned citizens.  One thing you can bet on, is the task force will have at least one or more anti hunting advocates.  They are persistent and aware and vocal in their community.  They stay abreast of happenings that will affect deer management.  It is imparitive that hunters and hunting be represented on committee.  There are hunters in these communities and they need to step up and have an influence on committee recommendations.

The antis will always push for the same things, capture and relocation, birth control and even the reintroduction of large natural predators. If all else fails they may agree to the sharpshooting of deer because in theri simple minds it's more hunmane than hunting.  They'll do anything to keep you from hunting in your backyard.  Claims will be made that deer die in backyards in front of kids playing, deer will be running around with arrows sticking out of them, they'll claim wounding loss from bowhunting is higher than it truly is, they'll claim that kids will find broadhead tipped arrows and be severely injured by them, they'll use whatever scare tactics they can to influence the committees decisions about deer control.  These are pretty easy arguments to counter but we have to be there.

Don't be complacxent folks, get involved, Be there to win a battle for hunting.  

Trap

[bowhunterfrompast]

Go to  www.MoBowCo.org  to connect to the Urban Bowhunter Specialists class dates.

Ray checked out your site. It has all the info a landowner and bowhunter needs, great job.

Trap is correct. Responsible bowhunters need to be involved. Be a part of the solution or part of the problem. Our choice!

I looked into th MoBowCo site and could not find any other info about U.B.S. except class dates. I would like to suggest that anyone involved in the M.B.C. take a look at the site  www.swmnga.org.

bhfp