AVON LAKE, Ohio – In a Collective Committee Council meeting June 16 a revised ordinance for deer management was presented for discussion and resident input.
It is no secret that the white-tailed dear population within city limits has become a problem for residents. Councilman John Shondel, chair of the Environmental Committee, introduced a revised ordinance the committee hopes will be more successful in reducing the deer than the old one has been.
An ordinance passed in July 2004 set up a deer-culling program that permitted landowners of five acres or more undeveloped land to hunt with bows if they receive a permit from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Avon Police.
It is thought that the old program has so many constraints built into the ordinance that there are very few places that would meet all the requirements such as the 1000 foot set back demand.
The revised ordinance will take out much of the restrictive language and leave the decision to grant permits to the Police Chief or his designee.
Avon Police Chief Duane Streator and Ohio Department of Natural Resources assistant wildlife management supervisor, Geoff Westerfield, attended the meeting and answered council and resident questions.
“We’re looking at this from more of a common sense standpoint where we’re going to take each situation specifically,” said Streator. “There are some very unique circumstances in Avon Lake where this [bow hunting] could occur safely. But if you go by the setbacks in the previous ordinance it couldn’t have occurred.”
Residents who have significant, ongoing damage to their landscaping or property due to the deer will make application for state and local permits. ODNR will review damage claims and make a site visit to see if non-lethal methods could successful. If not, a permit to bow hunt out of season would be granted.
The permit would not only be time limited but would set a maximum number of deer that could be killed out of season. The city would do the same.
“First and foremost, to the police department, safety is our biggest concern,” Streator said to council. “We aren’t going to let any of this happen if it isn’t safe. If it can be done safely then residents can be given the opportunity to take care of a major problem they’re having on their property.”
Westerfield told council that the deer are smarter than people think. “The true benefit of the program is the [hunting] activity out in the fields,” he said. “The deer sense the danger and leave.”
Residents will have opportunities to express their concerns at the council meetings scheduled for June 23 and 30. These meetings begin at 7:30 pm.
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