To help control urban mule deer numbers, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved Helena, Montana’s urban mule deer culling program “indefinitely.” However, while the move may keep flourishing urban deer numbers in check, funding comes from the city’s budget and, for the second year in a row, “city officials say they do not plan to fund the program,” the Independent Record reports.
Last week, the commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan, which would require the city to survey deer populations and give officials permission to “cull up to 250 animals” even though, historically, they’ve only lethally removed about 100 deer each year. By extending the urban deer culling program “indefinitely,” even though the commission would still need to review culling quotes, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (Montana FWP) Game Management Bureau chief Brian Wakeling said “the move would reduce the administrative burden on Montana FWP.”
“It would remain indefinitely so long as Helena did not change its management strategy,” said Wakeling.
“While the state has jurisdiction over wildlife management and must approve the plan, the city bears the financial burden and responsibility for carrying it out,” said Commission Chairman Shane Colton.
The program has been in place since 2008 and has helped reduce the number of animal-vehicle collisions in the city. Deer are culled via a net trap and killed using a bolt gun reserved for livestock, according to the Independent Record. Meat from the culled animals is processed and donated. The plan has lowered overall deer “densities from 33 to 25 deer per square mile.”
Yet, the program was suspended last year due to budget cuts and this year is likely facing the same circumstances. However, according to the Independent Record, Helena Police Chief Steve Hagen and Montana FWP officials say that if the program doesn’t continue, “populations and associated conflicts are expected to increase.”
3 Comments
WARREN LACOUR
6/19/2020, 1:33:01 AM
Conn. has a similar program as North Dakota, and it works.
Joe Smallacombe
6/4/2020, 7:56:57 PM
Bismarck (North Dakota) Animal control in partnership with ND Game and Fish administer a Whitetail Herd Reduction program in which they issue permits to 25 qualified and licensed volunteer archers to hunt in designated areas within the city limits to help manage the deer populations. Each hunter is authorized to purchase (at regular resident price) up to 3 doe tags in addition to their regular state-wide archery any deer tag. Archers pay a small fee for the trespass permit ($5) plus the cost of the tags. The program works quite well and actually makes money for the city and Game and Fish via the tags and fees. The archers are allowed to keep or donate any harvested meat. It's a win/win for the city and the archers. I've been participating in the program now for 3 years and love the convenience and the extra meat. These types of programs do not need to be cost prohibitive and can be successfully administered with relatively minimal effort. What we've found over the years is that we have the same group of archers each season and we've all come to know each other and are self policing. Shenanigans are not tolerated and using a secure facebook group, archers are always on the ready to help a fellow hunter track or retrieve an animal. Discretion is another key to the success of the program and is also strictly monitored and scrutinized by the archers. Feel free to hit me up if you'd like more information.
Bruce Beswick
6/4/2020, 2:02:45 PM
Whenever I see this kind of deer management it makes me want to throw up. Another opportunity at a resource hunters have no access to. This is not sustainable wildlife management as it should be. At least the meat is being used.