Commentary -Urban Archery is a Cost-Free Alternative to Expensive Deer Culling

Dear City Manager and Honorable Members of Council,

I’m writing in response to the FY 2011-2012 Budget. First, I’d like to commend City Staff, Council, and especially City Manager Chris Morrill on his “Budgeting for Outcomes” program. It has been a very transparent process that identifies priorities and encourages accountability and efficiency.

My concern is under “Additional Uses of Excess Debt Funding”, where Council has approved $75,000 for Deer Culling. The City has spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in past years paying out of state companies to cull deer. Recent City data indicates that we pay around $165 per deer killed.

I’ve worked with many different neighborhoods around Roanoke and deer-human conflicts are a very common issue. It more severely affects our rural neighborhoods like Greater Deyerle and South Roanoke. There are certain enclaves and pockets within the City that are unaffected by the current culling program because there are no parks or city owned property. The vast majority of private landowners in the City do not allow for-profit companies and their sharpshooters on their property.

However, there is a Cost-Free Solution to help control the deer population called “Urban Archery”. It was created by the VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to assist towns and cities across the Commonwealth with urban deer management issues. Licensed citizens can bow hunt on private property w/ permission during approved hunting seasons. Modern bows are considered extremely safe and can only shoot an arrow short distances. They are accurate to around 40 yards. An arrow shot from a treestand travels downward and into the ground, as opposed to a stray bullet from a silenced high power rifle that can travel over a mile.

Urban Archery has been approved by the General Assembly at the State level since 2002. Since then, it has been successfully utilized by over 35 localities throughout Virginia. The list of those participating includes: Lynchburg, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Danville, Martinsville, Radford, Rocky Mount, Pulaski, Staunton, Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Winchester. Some cities add a few basic regulations like a hunter must be at least 10 feet in the air, or a property must be larger than one acre.

It was recommended by a Roanoke City Task Force Study in 2003 as part of an overall deer management plan, but Council has still not asked the State to participate in this free program. The regulation that establishes this season is permissive, and the season was made available to every incorporated city and town in Virginia. Therefore, the season is only “open” in those towns, cities, and counties that requested to participate in writing to the DGIF. Further info can be found at: www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/urban-archery/

I’m a conservationist and would never want to eradicate wildlife in the City, but game populations need to be kept in check. Too many deer cause damage to vehicles, landscaping, and personal property. Roanoke has become a refuge for unregulated growth and populations have flourished because deer are not hunted here. Excess deer are the reason so many coyotes now make Roanoke City their home.

It is very common to see a herd of eight deer at a time grazing in my back yard. Last April, I woke up with a major pain on my left side. Upon further inspection, there was a large bruise and bull’s eye with a deer tick or black legged tick embedded in my skin. I had to take heavy doses of antibiotics to combat Lyme disease. I also constantly find deer ticks on my dog. The sudden influx of deer ticks in the City is because these ticks feed and breed on deer.

For years, many City residents have unsuccessfully asked Council for the State’s Urban Archery Program and every month more pledge their support. It would be very beneficial to Roanoke City as a cost effective alternative to expensive deer culling and would create a large savings that could be used elsewhere.

In closing, Urban Archery is a classic win-win for the City and its citizens. It provides local governments with a proactive approach for urban deer management. It doesn’t cost a penny, but will provide recreation and food for our residents, as well as help control the deer populations in all areas of the City. The State’s program is now 10 years old and dozens of other towns and cities across VA have already laid the groundwork. How is Roanoke any different than these other localities throughout VA?

If you support the Urban Archery program, please respond to this editorial and contact your City Council members via: www.roanokeva.gov/council/

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Sincerely, Braxton Naff. Roanoke

 

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