Laserfiche WebLink
City Council Minutes <br />June 1, 2015 <br />Page 11 <br />police receives these complaints of hunters and gunshot sounds near the downtown <br />district and residential housing. <br />Mr. Wilson stated the intent to provide public education for use of the area, accurate <br />and descriptive signage to ensure clear understanding to users, and he realizes there <br />may be an increase in call reports due to the location of the land near the downtown <br />and residential area. He stated this is a prime example of how a conservation area can <br />exist within in a community. <br />Councilmember Wagner stressed the need to address folks not familiar with hunting <br />times of year with education campaigns and signage. <br />Mr. Wilson agreed and wouldn't want to restrict those who want to take a "Sunday <br />walk" on the property. <br />Councilmember Westgaard noted there is limited access to property and signage at <br />the main entrance would assist visitors to be aware of hunting activity during certain <br />times of the year. <br />The consensus of the council was to approve the draft hunting plan as proposed. <br />10.2 Deer Herd Reduction <br />Mr. Hecker presented the staff report. He introduced Park Commissioners Dave <br />Anderson and Mike Niziolek, and Steve Engehneyer, employee of Cargill and the <br />manager of the Cargill hunt. <br />Mr. Anderson reviewed the problem of the deer population in the city and indicated <br />the reasons behind the increase. One area discussed was resident backyard deer <br />feeding, thereby creating herds of deer traveling through properties via city roads. It <br />was s <br />In combination with current practice of "back tag" program, the volunteer group <br />suggest expansion of an area known to the Minnesota Department of Natural <br />Resources (DNR) as deer hunting Zone 601 (near Walmart and includes the land <br />surrounding Cargill) as a useful tool in controlling the deer herd. This would allow <br />hunters to shoot anderless deer with no limit. The DNR would ask for council <br />support to allow expansion of this zone. <br />The group would like the council support of a controlled archery hunt in Elk River <br />parks. Mr. Anderson explained the group's intent regarding how hunters are selected, <br />educated in a pre -hunt meeting, rules being adhered to, and which parks were being <br />considered as hunting zones. He explained the urgency in acting upon this due to the <br />damage the deer are doing and the already high population growth of new fawns. <br />P D k E R E 0 a Y <br />NATUREI <br />