Meyer names committee to study Cape Girardeau urban deer hunting

A seven-person committee was in place Monday, charged with studying how best to manage what Cape Girardeau officials see as an explosion in the deer population in the city limits.

City manager Scott Meyer released the names of the new committee members Monday afternoon. The committee is being tasked with taking a look at urban deer hunting, typically a highly regimented program that allows trained hunters to kill deer with a bow on private property.

The new committee members are Dru Reeves, Jarett Seiler, Mel Dockins, Bard Womack, Judy Bullock Graetz, James Whitnel and Beverly Weakley. The city's staff liaison will be assistant police chief Roger Fields.

Council member John Voss, who raised the issue recently, said he was fine with the names of the people who had agreed to serve on the committee. All but one member is from Cape Girardeau, with the other from the county. Some members of the committee tend to favor the idea, while others have concerns.

"I think it's a good mix," Voss said. "We want to make sure we understand the issue and it doesn't seem like there's anyone on there who just wants to plow forward with their own agenda."

The committee will likely take four to six months, Voss said, to study the ordinances of other communities where urban deer hunting has been implemented. They should hear from conservation experts and those who have overseen or participated in that type of program. The committee will also be charged with hosting at least one public hearing to give residents the opportunity to voice their support or opposition.

Voss expects the committee to bring back suggestions and give city council members an opportunity to respond. The committee can then implement some of the council's directions and submit a revised plan.

Voss said he doesn't see the committee's job as weighing whether to implement urban deer hunting, but how best to do it. Voss said urban deer hunting is just one option, though it appears to be the most likely option.

"There are a lot of solutions, but I think there is conceptual alignment that we have too many deer in the city," Voss said.

One thing he said that should be part of any ordinance is prohibiting residents from setting out food for deer, which is only exacerbating the problem.

Only highly trained hunters would be allowed to participate, he said, but not before demonstrating they have an understanding of the ordinance. Safety would be a high priority in any program implemented here, Voss said.

Voss said he is hopeful that some sort of deer management ordinance is in place before hunting season next year.

Residents have complained about deer destroying landscapes and the number of motor-vehicle accidents involving deer has been on the rise in recent years.

Not every council member is entirely sold on the idea, however. Kathy Swan said she has "mixed feelings" on the issue.

She said she had safety concerns and, while not directly opposed to the idea, she does want to wait to hear from the committee. She also doesn't want the city spending a lot of money to implement the program.

"I am trying to be open-minded, but I want to err on the side of caution," Swan said. "I probably need to be convinced that it's going to be safe. I want to make sure we are as safe after the program as we were before the program."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO