13 Deer Killed Two Weeks Into Deer-Reduction Efforts
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
There have been 13 deer harvested in the Warsaw city limits during the first two weeks of this year's deer- reduction efforts.
The deer reduction efforts started Oct. 1 and will run through Jan. 6. There are 24 archers participating in the efforts.Last year was the first year for archers to hunt in declared nuisance zones in the city. The nuisance zones include the entire area around Spring Hill, Oakwood Cemetery, Kosciusko Community Hospital and U.S. 30.
Syracuse resident and deer task force member Patrick Schroeder hunted Friday afternoon in one of the reduction zones behind Kosciusko Community Hospital. Schroeder participated in last year's reduction efforts and said he harvested three deer last year.
"Finding and seeing deer is not a problem, but the hunters make sure we follow the rules and are 70 feet away from resident's property lines before we harvest the deer," Schroeder said.
He said during last year's efforts, he counted more than 20 deer at a time in residents' back yards.
Half of the hunters that participated in last year's deer-reduction effort are again participating this year. Hunting is only taking place during weekdays. Archers will not hunt on holidays.
The Warsaw City Council approved a resolution and declared nuisance zones at its June 18 meeting to allow trained archers to hunt in the declared nuisance zones. There were 18 deer harvested during the reduction efforts by the 18 archers who participated in last year's reduction effort in Warsaw Dec. 18 through Jan. 8.
The hunters are being overseen by a management committee of Warsaw Police Chief Steve Foster, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Deer Task Force Chair Jeff Grose and task force members Matt Dick and Joe Thallemer.
Foster said the hunt has been successful so far, and said he hopes the longer hunting time period will allow for more deer to be harvested.
The 24 archers participating in this year's reduction efforts have hunted in all of the reduction zones over the past two weeks and the reduction zones have been hunted in 55 times, Foster said. Some of the hunters have hunted two to three times and others have hunted once.
"The hunt has been going well and the training was helpful for the new hunters and those who hunted last year, and all of the hunters are dedicated to the reduction efforts the city is looking for," Foster said.
There were 25 hunters who attended deer reduction training Aug. 25 at the Warsaw Police Department for this year's hunt.
Grose said he also is pleased with the reduction efforts.
"The archers have been doing a good job of reporting in and following the hunting guidelines," Grose said.
The archers must complete log sheets stating where they hunted and what they saw after each reduction effort. They must provide the information to the Warsaw Police Department bi-weekly.
