What's going on at City Hall?

[livewire]

Deer issue is now on hold. Can we talk about some of the other statements in the OP thread?

[twobits]

Thankfully for both the deer and Penticton's taxpayers, Minister Steve Thomson smote the hare-brained idea.

No kidding. Am thinking Litke is feeling a little sheepish for buying into Chief Krugers hunting party idea.

Rwede, you are an avid hunter as well as a practicing animal conservationist. Can you point out any flaw with more Doe seasons, even if limited to bows, as a possible solution to the urban deer issue?

[Rwede]

Rwede, you are an avid hunter as well as a practicing animal conservationist. Can you point out any flaw with more Doe seasons, even if limited to bows, as a possible solution to the urban deer issue?

Doe seasons are a good management practice. The healthiest deer populations with the most optimum buck to doe ratios and fawn to doe ratios have harvest across both sexes and all age classes.

This is especially true for whitetails as they can withstand heavier harvest, with some does being bred as young as six months and with twins and triplets very common. Such a prolific species can quickly outgrow its available food sources and habitat if does aren't harvested. Buck only seasons do not limit population numbers at all.

High whitetail populations also support high predator populations, which have a larger effect on mule deer populations as mule deer are preferred food sources for predators. That results in declining mule deer populations from predation that is supplemented by whitetail deer populations. Not great news for muleys while whitetails continue to thrive.

The problem with an urban deer hunt is largely social concerns. Not many hunters want to arrow a deer and have it run through someone's yard before expiring. Discharge of firearms, even shotguns in urban areas is also problematic. The social stigma isn't something most hunters want to tackle, and thus when asked the BCWF members said they wanted no part of an urban deer hunt.

There's a very strong theory that the large increase in wolves and cougars in the Okanagan over the past 5 years has driven these deer to seek refuge in urban areas. Predator management in the traditional deer ranges is, I believe, a positive step toward easing the urban deer issue, but there's little political will to entertain the idea.

[twobits]

The problem with an urban deer hunt is largely social concerns. Not many hunters want to arrow a deer and have it run through someone's yard before expiring. Discharge of firearms, even shotguns in urban areas is also problematic. The social stigma isn't something most hunters want to tackle, and thus when asked the BCWF members said they wanted no part of an urban deer hunt.

I get that. Instead of being looked at as providing a service and also utilizing the meat, BCWF members would be cast as lazy opportunists fishing in a barrel. Perhaps if given the opportunity, the members across the channel would do it without feeling conflicted.

There's a very strong theory that the large increase in wolves and cougars in the Okanagan over the past 5 years has driven these deer to seek refuge in urban areas. Predator management in the traditional deer ranges is, I believe, a positive step toward easing the urban deer issue, but there's little political will to entertain the idea.

Political will will arrive when the predators arrive in town and there are unnecessary tragedies. If the deer are seeking refuge in towns, it is inevitable that the predators will follow. It will be interesting to see how the live with nature folks adapt their gardens and fences to live with cougars.

[twobits]

http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/239118151.html

And note the last line in this article. Coincidence that this town is also struggling with urban deer.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.2551694