Bowhunters help manage deer herd in Minnesota suburb (1/16/2004)

Bowhunters near Minneapolis have again proven they can provide a safe and effective population control for skyrocketing deer herds.

On the final day of Minnesota's deer archery season, Metro Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB) received permission to cull a deer herd at the Minneapolis Water Works, the city's water treatment facility. The herd had become too large for the available habitat in an 80-acre enclosure. Thirty-five deer were taken in three hours during the hunt.

The MBRB was organized eight years ago by local bowhunters to help control a deer overpopulation problem in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

One of the directors and organizers of MBRB is Twin Cities resident Bob Whiting, a long-time U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance member and volunteer.

"Our group is a highly-trained, very effective pool of 2,500 hunters," said Whiting. "We have removed 1,200 deer in eight years throughout the metro area. The water works hunt was one of fifteen hunts we've held this year."

The MBRB has a stellar record of achievement for successful deer removal and safety. Its members have spent hundreds of thousands of man-hours performing the service without any shooting accidents.

The bowhunters perform their service at no charge to the community. For most operations, they use their own deer licenses and often donate the venison to food banks.

Protestors tried unsuccessfully to disrupt the water works hunt. One anti-hunter was arrested after vandalizing a truck that was leaving the hunt with deer carcasses.

"Most people want the deer removed," stated Whiting. " I don't know what these communities would do if they didn't have us. Most local municipalities can't afford other alternatives."

A proposal to initiate a deer birth control program and use sharpshooters had been considered at the water works facility. The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance alerted local bowhunters of the issue via its E-mail Network and urged them to oppose the proposal.

Such birth control programs require permission from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Minnesota DNR has never issued such a permit nor implemented the technique as a management tool.

Studies show that, unlike bowhunting programs to control urban deer, deer contraceptives can cost over $1,000 per animal and are not effective nor have been proven to be safe for humans or the animals.

"We provide a service that helps municipalities, the area and the needy," said Whiting. " It's really a win-win for all involved, including the deer."

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