Moslin suggests limited entry deer hunt for 2012
By Mona Mattei
A controversial proposal for a limited entry hunt to control deer herds in Grand Forks has come to the forefront in discussions at the city’s deer committee once again. Councillor Chris Moslin broached the sensitive topic at city council to prepare the community for 2012. “The deer committee is considering the concept of a limited entry hunt,” said Moslin. “This is basically a population reduction strategy and can happen in a general open season or a limited entry hunt where only those persons who apply and are selected through a lottery can participate.” Moslin suggested that the hunt should target reproductive females and will need to operate within the city’s own firearms bylaws. This could mean a bow and arrow only hunting. Moslin made it clear that hunters need an incentive to hunt inside of town, and, in order to reduce the deer herds, the bag limits need to be increased. Although it is too late to work with the province to have the hunt in 2011, Moslin is hoping to work on this for 2012. Mayor Brian Taylor, also a member of the deer committee, made it clear that the committee itself is divided on this question. “This was very controversial and was not voted on. Councillor Moslin brought it forward because he is very much in support of it,” said Taylor. “Do not consider that this will be supported by the deer committee. I’m concerned that running this up the flag-pole is going to alarm people that we are moving into a city deer hunt. We are not at that point.” Taylor explained that they are still looking at the option of birth control to manage the herd sizes and that the Ministry of Environment staff will be providing the committee with up-to-date pharmacology information. While he is not sure how many hunters would participate, Moslin felt confident that this is a low-cost solution for the deer plagued community. Moslin did a deer information presentation at Dr. Perley Elementary School to a class of nine and 10-year-olds last month. His presentation resulted in 22 hand drawn posters that Moslin hopes can be used to promote education about deer and the city’s no-feeding bylaw around town. “Incidently, I asked the kids, ‘how many of you have seen a dead deer?’” Moslin commented. “They all put up their hands. ‘How many of you have been in a car that hit a deer?’ Six kids put up their hands. So these kids have a very personal, well this is a real issue for them. This is something they live with as children.”
Moslin said the committee is going to mount the posters and determine where they can be posted around the community to help educate about this long-term problem of urban deer.
