Warsaw Deer Reduction Training Attended By 25 Archers Saturday
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
A training session for this year's deer-reduction efforts in Warsaw was attended by 25 archers Saturday.
The four-hour session was held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Warsaw Police Department.
Warsaw City Council approved a resolution and declared nuisance zone at its June 18 meeting to again allow trained archers to hunt in the declared nuisance zones. Last year was the first year for trained hunters to hunt in declared nuisance zones in Warsaw.
Trained hunters will hunt in the same nuisance zones as last year, including the entire area around Spring Hill, Oakwood Cemetery, Kosciusko Community Hospital and U.S. 30.
There were 18 deer harvested during the reduction efforts by the 15 archers that participated in last year's reduction efforts from Dec. 18 through Jan. 8.
This year's reduction effort will begin Oct. 1 and run through Jan. 6. Hunting will only take place during weekdays. Archers will not hunt on holidays.
Warsaw Deer Task Force members Matt Dick and Jon Cook and Deer Task Force Chair Jeff Grose held the training session.
They discussed bow hunting rules and regulations and this year's goals for the deer- reduction efforts in Warsaw.
The deer task force history and deer reduction zones also were covered.
The archers also were required to complete a proficiency test where they used their bow and arrows to hit practice targets to be considered for the reduction efforts.
Grose said he was pleased with Saturday's turnout.
"The training went a lot faster this year because we had at least half of the hunters who participated in last year's training who were familiar with the reduction zones and brought their own targets," Grose said.
He said the task force hopes to select at least 20 hunters for this year's reduction effort.
The task force will again be overseen by a management committee of Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Grose, Police Chief Steve Foster and task force members Dick and Joe Thallemer.
Those interested in participating in this year's reduction effort were required to complete an application form and Warsaw Police Department criminal history release form. The WPD will review the background checks, which will take two weeks, Grose said. He said Wiggins will need to approve the list of hunters selected and they will be notified by phone if they are selected.
