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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Urban Deer Management Program - Bow Hunting RESOLUTION NO. 20-387 RESOLUTION APPROVING URBAN DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - BOW HUNTING FOR THE CITY OF AMES WHEREAS, over the past decade, Ames has experienced citizen complaints about deer damage, car-deer collisions, and other issues associated with high concentrations of whitetail deer within the City; and, WHEREAS, in an attempt to address these concerns, a Special Urban Deer Task Force (SUDTF)was convened in 2006; and, WHEREAS,the City Ordinance establishing the SUDTF requires an annual report to the City Council; and, WHEREAS, previous Task Force recommendations to the City Council have included an annual survey of deer populations,a ban on deer feeding,public education efforts,and limited urban bow hunting of deer; and, WHEREAS,urban deer hunting has been conducted in a limited number of locations under special rules administered by the Police Department; and, WHEREAS, all participants must purchase a special tag and register with the Police Department,and the rules also require participants to pass a safety course,proficiency test,hunt only from tree stands situated at least 85-feet from trails, and limit shots to 75-feet or less; and, WHEREAS, an aerial count of deer is generally conducted by the Department of Natural Resources(DNR)under a cost-sharing arrangement with the City;however,and an aerial survey was not conducted this year due to weather conditions; and, WHEREAS,deer densities exceeding 30 deer per square mile are generally thought to be the most likely to have human-deer conflict at a level where intervention is warranted; and, WHEREAS,in recent years,the overall deer densities have exceeded that threshold in three or more of the seven survey areas in the City, and the trend toward higher concentrations in West Ames continues to be evident in hunter feedback from the past year; and, WHEREAS, a majority of Task Force members support the continuation of hunting in designated City locations; and, WHEREAS,the Iowa Department of Natural Resources(IDNR)establishes "legal hunting hours" (one-half hour before sunrise that continue to one-half hour after sunset) and the "dates" (September 12 to January 10) for the City of Ames; however,the City may modify these hours and dates as long as they fall within the overall DNR time lines; and, WHEREAS, staff recommends the following locations for deer hunting within the City of Ames: 1)wooded City property south of the Hunziker Youth Sports Complex;2)City property north of the landfill in East Ames off Watt Street(does not include Water Plant or adjacent construction areas); 3) South River Valley Park; Gateway Park, Homewood Golf Course; and Inis Grove Park; and, WHEREAS, all dates are subject to adjustment by the Ames Police Department for safety- related issues, and hunting may be temporarily suspended by the Ames Police Department in any location for safety-related reasons; and, WHEREAS,in addition,the Urban Deer Task Force recommends continuation of the process allowing private property or other non-City public property to be enrolled as urban deer hunting locations; and, WHEREAS, the process of establishing eligibility requires the owner or lawful agent in control of the property to submit a written request for participation to the Police Department. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that bow hunting within the park system,on City property, and other eligible property as detailed in the Urban Deer Management ordinance and rules is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 28t' day of July, 2020. Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Betcher Seconded by: Corrieri Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Martin Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 28t'day of July, 2020.