7.0. PRSR 06-10-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Deer Herd Reduction Efforts in Elk River The goal of this program is to reduce the deer herd and achieve a healthy population of deer for the urban and natural landscape of our community. While deer are in short supply in some areas of the state, the deer herd in much of Elk River, like many other urban areas, has grown too large. Urban and other protected areas offer deer a refuge of sorts from predators, both two and four legged, and a relatively abundant food supply. When deer densities get too high, in addition to the obvious car/deer collisions and the damage to home owners landscaping, their quest for food harms natural forest regeneration as the deer feed on young trees, killing them before they have a chance to mature. This environmental damage is evident in most of our parks. Aggravating the problem and often a significant cause of the increasing deer numbers is back yard deer feeding. This is part of the abundant food supply that brings deer into urban areas. Well-meaning homeowners, who enjoy watching the deer that they feed, can create unnatural travel patterns increasing car/deer collisions and increase the chances for the spread of disease. The best and only method to control deer in much of the city is the current "back tag" program, where hunters can take deer on private property, with land owner permission, within the cities no discharge zone. One limiting factor in the ability of this effort was the 2014 "hunter choice" category which limits hunters to a single deer. While likely inappropriate in many areas, there are areas within the city that could benefit by more liberal limits. MNDNR deer hunting Zone 601, which encompasses much of greater Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area and includes a small portion of Elk River, has no individual limit of antlerless deer. Expansion of this zone further into Elk River would greatly benefit the deer herd reduction effort. In response to the damage that deer are causing in city parks, the Park and Recreation commission has discussed and supported the possibility of allowing limited archery deer hunting in select city parks to help reduce deer numbers. A volunteer group has been organized and has been meeting monthly since February to discuss possible rules and details of the hunts. Members of this group include Commissioners Mike Niziolek and Dave Anderson, MNDNR Conservation officer Mitch Sladek, Council member Matt Westgaard, Steve Engelmeyer who manages the local Cargill hunt and Elk River Police Reserve Kelly Hinrichs. ERPD Sargent Dave Dummer is participating when he can.