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<br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br />To Item Number <br />Mayor and City Council 8.5 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />General Business June 5, 2017 Tim Sevcik, Parks Maintenance Superintendent <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />Deer Herd Management Plan Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director <br />Reviewed by <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Approve, by motion, authorization to conduct controlled archery deer hunts within select park units. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />In 2016, the city conducted its first ever controlled archery deer hunts in an effort to control deer <br />populations within city parks. Hunts in 2016 consisted of 20 hunters being selected for 10 hunt zones <br />with hunts conducted on Sundays through Wednesdays for the duration of the Minnesota archery deer <br />season. Nine deer were harvested, eight does and one buck, from each property with the exception of <br />Harris Island. <br /> <br />Following the controlled hunts, staff and volunteers conducted a post-hunt meeting with the selected <br />hunters to gather feedback and recommendations. Overall, hunters were satisfied and recommended <br />adding additional opportunities to include multiple hunters per zone, increasing the number of parks <br />available to hunt, and to allow hunting every day of the week. Following the meeting, the hunt organizers <br />and staff reviewed the recommendations and developed the 2017 Deer Herd Management Plan. <br /> <br />Key changes to the 2017 plan include allowing hunting to occur seven days per week throughout the <br />entire hunt season; selecting two hunters per hunt zone; and expanding the hunt to include Hillside City <br />Park, Meadowvale Heights Park and Alba Ridge Park in addition to Woodland Trails Regional Park, <br />Harris Island, Camp Cozy, Sedge Meadow, and Birch Meadow. <br /> <br />Hunter selection will be conducted by lottery preference point with 30 total permits available. All hunters <br />selected must complete an archery proficiency test and attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation meeting. <br />The parks will remain open to the public for the duration of the hunts. Public notification will be <br />provided on the city website, through social media outlets and via signs located near park access points. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br /> $5 application fee due at time of application <br /> $25 processing fee for successful applicants due at orientation <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> Deer Herd Management Plan <br /> <br />