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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Council Action Summary from September 13, 2005 meeting COUNCIL ACTION SUMMARY Meeting Date: 9113105 Agenda Item #: Comments SUBJECT: Letter from Alex Blackdeer Walker, Jr., RE: Reducing Deer Population ACTION TAKEN: Referred to staff. MOTION BY: Goodhue SECOND BY: Cross VOTING AYE: Cross, Goodhue, Goodman, Mahayni,Vegge, Wirth VOTING NAY: None ABSENT: None By: �,VJJAV�f 1/1 A J2 Diane Voss, City Clerk Copy to: Steven L. Schainker 40 August 21, 2005 City Council of Ames Dear City Council Members, The following is a proposal for eliminating and reducing the population of unwanted deer in your area in a manner that is not only safe, but humane and respectful. First I would like to briefly introduce myself, Alexander Blackdeer Walker, Jr. I am a full-blood Native American who was born and grew up in the Tama, Iowa area. I completed my master's degree in social work(1990), as well as while doing post- graduate work in the American Studies program at the University of Iowa. I am a combat veteran of the Vietnam conflict. I have worked with the Iowa Correctional system leading Native American religious ceremonies for native inmates throughout the prison system in the State of Iowa, including Ft. Madison,Mt. Pleasant,Anamosa,Newton, and Ft. Dodge. I currently do Meskwaki translation services on a part-time basis. I have participated in the hunting of deer and game since the age of seven-years-old while growing up on the Meskwaki Settlement near Tama, Iowa. I killed my first buck at the age of 12 years by myself. I can guarantee effective results because I have hunted and killed deer every year since the age of 12, except during my years of military service. I am an expert tracker and bow hunter. I also fired as an expert marksman in the military with the M14 and M16. I've taken deer with everything from a.22 caliber rim fire up through 30:06. I usually am able to kill deer with one shot kills whether with rifle or bows. I have also hunted big game in the Rocky Mountain West,but more importantly I am very familiar with the topography and logistics of most parts of Iowa. I am quite familiar with Ames and the surrounding area. I can adapt to each particular location's circumstances. If the location is within the city's limits and in a suburban environment, I can use whatever method is safe and/or whatever method the city council would advise. I can shoot the deer at any time of the day or night that the city council would advise. For example, if it would disturb the citizens of the area during daylight hours, I could hunt during early evening and nighttime hours, as I am quite proficient with starlight scopes and would consider using thermal imaging systems. In the military I was involved in reconnaissance as well as clandestine operations. I can insure that the general population would not know that I am in the area doing my work, if needed. I understand that the general population would not like to hear the report of a loud high-powered rifle around their homes or in the general vicinity of their adjacent environment. Since I am an expert bow-hunter, I could therefore use this method in urban or suburban locations. If there's a large population of deer, I would consider using cross-bows. Unless there is another bow-hunter within fifty feet of me,nobody would need to know that I was in the area, except for the DNR, city police, county sheriff,or other agencies that would need to be informed regarding this operation. 1 ~Y -2- Another option would be to use a subsonic round in a .308 caliber or smaller. A .25 caliber centerfire might also be more proficient. There is also the option of using a silencer. Because of my marksmanship capabilities, I can shoot and hit my specific target without the danger of ricochet or the bullet passing through to endanger other animals or humans. I assume there are conditions such as having to be bonded as well as insurance concerns. The point is I can customize my methods of taking the game to accommodate the concerns of the city council and the people of Ames and tailor this project to fit your guidelines and requirements. I welcome suggestions from the various people,your committees, and your local agencies to facilitate this project and its success. I understand that in the past the city of Iowa City has contracted and utilized an out of state entity, "White Buffalo", from Connecticut to reduce the city's deer population. Contracting with an Iowa-based operation such as mine would benefit Ames and the state of Iowa's economy because all of my equipment and ammunition would be purchased either from your city or area or at least in the state of Iowa. My proposal is to charge $275 per animal,but I am open to negotiations on this. My understanding is that the deer meat is given to incarceration facilities or other human service related organizations. If I am required to pay for the meat processing, this of course would be reflected in the prices that I will need to charge. I would really like to be considered for a multi-year operations/project because over-population of deer is a multi- year problem and cannot be fixed in one hunting season. In the Native American cultures,deer and other animals have been used for our people's survival. Therefore the hunting and utilization of animals is done in such a way that respects the life and death of each animal. I have grown up learning this highly respectful way to hunt and continue to use my traditional ways in the hunting of all animals. I am willing to meet with the city council at your request to discuss my proposal in further detail and to answer specific questions and concerns. I can provide you with references upon your request. I hope you will give consideration of my many years of experience in this area and the capabilities that I have developed over the years. Feel free to contact me at the given address and telephone number below at your convenience. Alex Blackdeer Walker, Jr. 2982 F Avenue Montour, Iowa 50173 Telephone- (641)484-3016 * Feel free to leave a message. Thank you for consideration to my proposal for this project. Sincerely, Alex Blackdeer Walker, Jr. - City Clerk's Office 515 Clark Avenue,P. O. Box 811 P-pk 9 Progroinr Ames, IA 50010 QuaGry P, seNke Phone: 515-239-5105 Fax: 515-239-5142 September 19, 2005 Mr. Alex Blackdeer Walker, Jr. 2982 F Avenue Montour, Iowa 50173 Dear Mr. Walker: At their meeting of September 13, 2005, the Ames City Council referred to staff your letter regarding reducing the community's deer population. A copy of your letter has been forwarded to Steve Schainker, City Manager, for his response. You will be notified if this item is scheduled on a City Council agenda. If you have questions in the interim, please contact Mr. Schainker at 239-5101. Sincerely, Diane Voss City Clerk /dry