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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br />To Item Number <br />Mayor and City Council 4.3 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />Consent May 4, 2020 Tim Sevcik, Street and Park Superintendent <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />Deer Herd Management Plan Justin Femrite, Public Works 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 />The city began conducting controlled archery deer hunts in 2016 to control deer populations within city parks. <br />Staff and volunteers have worked with hunters over the past years to modify and refine the hunts in order to <br />ensure public safety, hunt efficiency and effectiveness. In 2019, 64 hunters applied, and 26 hunters were <br />selected to hunts. Hunters observed 856 deer during the hunt period and harvested 20 deer. <br /> <br />Recommended changes for the 2020 hunt include combining Harris Island and Camp Cozy into one hunt <br />zone, requiring hunters to be Elk River residents, and modifying the lottery preference point system to be <br />consistent with other special permit hunts throughout the state. <br /> <br />Hunters are randomly selected by a lottery preference point system after paying a $10 application fee. All <br />selected hunters must complete an archery proficiency test and attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation <br />meeting. <br /> <br />The 2020 included parks are Harris Island/Camp Cozy, Sedge Meadow, Birch Meadow, Alba Ridge, Woodland <br />Trails Regional Park and Hillside City Park. 12 hunt zones will be available with two hunters assigned to each <br />for a total of 24 permits. Hunters may apply as individuals or in teams of two, individual hunters will be <br />partnered with another hunter within their zone. <br /> <br />The purpose of these hunts is to reduce deer densities in large park units to reduce car/deer collisions and <br />protect native habitat. Hunters are required to purchase a Minnesota deer archery license and follow all <br />applicable hunting regulations. Deer harvest limits will follow the established limits from the Minnesota DNR. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br /> $10 application fee due at time of application <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> Deer Herd Management Rules <br /> <br />