Deer overpopulation a continuing problem
Casey Cheney
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News
From now until 2012, Hillsdale students should not notice a decrease in city deer population.
Efforts to begin decreasing deer population stalled as plans from the Oct. 20 Hillsdale City Council meeting temporarily fell through. On top of this, City Manager Michael Mitchell said it takes between four and eight years for any changes to make a difference.
At the meeting, local resident Richard Smith presented a plan to gather a group of bow hunters to hunt deer within the city. In that meeting, the council concluded that he should meet with the Department of Natural Resources to establish an agreement.
Mitchell said such a meeting has not yet taken place. He said he had spoken with DNR officials and thought the chances were slim that Smith's plan would pass.
"I don't want you to get any kind of hopes up that it will come to fruition," he told the council.
He said the hunters would have an opportunity to hunt in the city during hunting season, an option that would not require a permit from the DNR and would allow the use of either bows or firearms.
Otherwise, the process of deer culling must be left to professionals.
Councilman Dave Williams said a professional would bring results more quickly because he has the incentive of being paid for work.
Yet the very issue of paying professionals makes the option Smith presented worth pursuing, Mitchell said.
Depending on who they hired, he said, the city would have to pay between $100 and $400 per deer.
Considering that other cities have killed 150 deer in one season of culling, cost could be important, Mitchell said.
"I would still pursue the option that Richard Smith presented," he said.
Councilman C.W. Amburgey said that if the city starts depending on professional cullers, they will have to be brought in each year, causing expenses to snowball.
The council decided to research the issue further before coming to a decision.
The council also granted Mitchell permission to explore the Garden for Growth Program, which would allow residents to pay $50 per property to garden on two vacant Hillsdale properties.
Mitchell said this would encourage people to eat their own produce and could also serve to beautify the area.
"It might be an avenue of enhancement, at least aesthetically," he said.
Some council members' only concern was whether the properties could grow healthy produce.
Finally, the council approved a contract that will allow the airport to expand by demolishing two structures located near it. Assistant City Manager Linda Brown said city officials will need to collaborate with the demolishing contractor if they hope to salvage materials from the building, such as windows.
Efforts to begin decreasing deer population stalled as plans from the Oct. 20 Hillsdale City Council meeting temporarily fell through. On top of this, City Manager Michael Mitchell said it takes between four and eight years for any changes to make a difference.
At the meeting, local resident Richard Smith presented a plan to gather a group of bow hunters to hunt deer within the city. In that meeting, the council concluded that he should meet with the Department of Natural Resources to establish an agreement.
Mitchell said such a meeting has not yet taken place. He said he had spoken with DNR officials and thought the chances were slim that Smith's plan would pass.
"I don't want you to get any kind of hopes up that it will come to fruition," he told the council.
He said the hunters would have an opportunity to hunt in the city during hunting season, an option that would not require a permit from the DNR and would allow the use of either bows or firearms.
Otherwise, the process of deer culling must be left to professionals.
Councilman Dave Williams said a professional would bring results more quickly because he has the incentive of being paid for work.
Yet the very issue of paying professionals makes the option Smith presented worth pursuing, Mitchell said.
Depending on who they hired, he said, the city would have to pay between $100 and $400 per deer.
Considering that other cities have killed 150 deer in one season of culling, cost could be important, Mitchell said.
"I would still pursue the option that Richard Smith presented," he said.
Councilman C.W. Amburgey said that if the city starts depending on professional cullers, they will have to be brought in each year, causing expenses to snowball.
The council decided to research the issue further before coming to a decision.
The council also granted Mitchell permission to explore the Garden for Growth Program, which would allow residents to pay $50 per property to garden on two vacant Hillsdale properties.
Mitchell said this would encourage people to eat their own produce and could also serve to beautify the area.
"It might be an avenue of enhancement, at least aesthetically," he said.
Some council members' only concern was whether the properties could grow healthy produce.
Finally, the council approved a contract that will allow the airport to expand by demolishing two structures located near it. Assistant City Manager Linda Brown said city officials will need to collaborate with the demolishing contractor if they hope to salvage materials from the building, such as windows.
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