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Committee Looks To Educate On Controlled Deer Shoot

The city’s Deer Ad Hoc Committee discusses getting other municipalities involved in curtailing the deer population in the greater Jamestown area. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

City residents are voicing their displeasure for and against the possibility of a controlled deer shoot in the city.

Earlier this month, the Jamestown Deer Ad Hoc Committee met online to discuss the possibility of a controlled deer shoot on city park property hundreds of yards away from residential property or city streets. Tom Nelson, Ward 6 councilman, said for years he has been hearing only from residents who complain about the damage deer have done to trees, plants and shrubbery. Since the deer committee started meeting in February to discuss a controlled deer shoot, Nelson said he is now receiving emails from people against the idea.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said his office is also receiving emails from people for and against the idea. Brent Sheldon, Ward 1 councilman, said he is mostly receiving emails from people against the possibility of a controlled deer shoot, which could involve around 10 experienced archers firing from a tree stand toward the ground.

Nelson said when he replies to those who are against the idea of a controlled deer shoot, he tells them the motivation is not about hunting. He said the program, if approved by the Jamestown City Council, would be for antlerless deer. Nelson said he isn’t a hunter, but the deer population, especially in Ward 6, has gone “crazy” during the last five to 10 years.

“I’m doing it for the people of Ward 6 who keep calling me and say, ‘When am I going to do something about this,”‘ Nelson said. “This isn’t the biggest problem we have to deal with in the city, but this is one of them. I just can’t ignore it.”

Anthony Dolce, city council president and Ward 2 councilman, said the deer problem isn’t as bad in Ward 2 as it is elsewhere in the city. He said people who oppose the controlled deer shoot will let their opinion be known.

“The other side is going to come out in force,” he said.

The committee then discussed ways to educate the public of how dense the deer population is in the city and how the overpopulation will lead to them dying of diseases like Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, which is a virus that affects domestic and wild hoofed animals. It is transmitted by the bite of a small midge (culicoides) known as “no-see-ums,” gnats and biting flies smaller than a mosquito. They transmit the virus by biting an infected host and then a susceptible one. Dolce suggested that the committee should contact a veterinarian to discuss how the overpopulation of deer leads to the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease.

The committee discussed how trail camera video of large groups of deer could show people how many there are in certain areas of the city. Matthew Larson, committee member, said he has trail cameras he can setup to acquire the video footage necessary to show how many deer are in the city.

“We need to convince the public that something needs to be done. Doing nothing is exactly that,” he said.

The committee also discussed that several other communities, including around Buffalo, have operated a controlled deer shoot and the program has worked.

“If they’re doing it safely, we can do it too,” Dolce said.

Grant Olson, Ward 5 councilman, also suggested the committee start working with Timothy Jackson, Jamestown Police Department chief and city public safety director. He said that Jackson needs to be involved if this program is going to be approved.

The committee will continue its discussion during its next meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 12.

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