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Plan drafted for killing Helena deer

By LARRY KLINE
Independent Record

HELENA - Helena and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials have worked out more of the details of the city's plan to kill 50 mule deer in town, and FWP has completed an environmental assessment that is now available for public review and comment.

The analysis shows the project will have no or minimal effects on land, air, water and vegetation resources. The study also analyzed wildlife affects and indicated that the project will have some effect on the city's deer population but not on other species.

"The removal of 50 animals will cause some localized changes to the distribution and abundance of mule deer and it will not adversely affect the overall abundance of the species within the city," according to the study. "Mule deer will still be plentiful in many parts of the city."

Comments on the study will be accepted until 5 p.m. June 9.

The city will use police officers armed with small-caliber firearms and bolt guns to kill deer captured in clover traps on public lands on the city's southeast side. Landowners also can ask to have deer trapped and killed on their private property. Venison gathered through the project will be given to Helena Food Share for charitable distribution.

The traps will be baited and monitored whenever they're in place, City Manager Tim Burton said. Police officers will kill bucks and does while releasing any fawns captured.

The work will get under way sometime between Aug. 15 and March 31.

Burton said FWP staffers suggested concentrating the work on the city's upper east side. He said police officers will use city parkland, other city properties and perhaps lands owned by other government agencies. Public access to those lands may be prohibited during the project. Specific parcels haven't yet been identified, Burton said.

"In the department's opinion, that's probably one of the more problem areas in town, and we are just going to go with what the biologists recommend," he said. Burton added that public comment could influence that decision.

A study conducted in late 2006 estimated the city's mule deer population to number about 700 by now. The herd is expected to grow to about 1,800 animals by 2010.

FWP's study noted the likely increase of human-deer conflicts if the population isn't reduced. Department and city officials, citing an extensive study developed by a citizen advisory group, initially asked FWP commissioners to approve the killing of up to 350 deer in the city limits.

Commissioners balked at the proposal, with some questioning the legitimacy of the problem and some hesitant to use any of the agency's user-fee funding to assist the city in killing deer in a place where hunters cannot.

The commission eventually agreed to a pilot project of 50 deer.

Copies of the study are available at FWP's Helena office at 930 Custer Ave., by calling at 495-3260, or by following the link at www.helenair.com.

Comments may be e-mailed to helenadeercontrol@mt.gov or sent to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, HARO Helena Urban Deer EA, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

Published on Sunday, May 11, 2008.
Last modified on 5/11/2008 at 1:32 am

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redneck said 1 month ago

Why not just bring in a family of wolves? Win-win situation!

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Native Montanan said 1 month ago

An environmental assessment to remove only 50 deer? This is a joke, right?

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Chicago said 1 month ago

redneck, awesome idea!!

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poor rancher said 1 month ago

Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out.

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Hardrockers77 said 1 month ago

This is obviously just a ploy to distract the Buffalo Field Campaign's militant Mule Deer Mafia, into leaving the Park so more of the starvi.. err, innocent Buffalo can be slaughtered!

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ric0shea said 1 month ago

FWP is a total disaster in MT. The deer population is completely out of control. Property damage and cost of feeding to farmers and ranchers while FWP rakes in license fees should be considered. Deer management is no better than wolf management.

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bigskynative said 1 month ago

Now DEER problems in Helena? So we STUDY, STUDY, STUDY. How much will it cost? Just like the buffalo population in YP, there will be way more than 50 fawns produced this spring. The population will again increase, more problems (like the buffalo), more cost. Ever wonder how much money the PUBLIC FUNDED Fish and Game spends on Bison, Wolves, and now Deer?

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blackie said 1 month ago

I have read about the deer in Helena and have seen them when up there. Why all the fuss. They have to be shot and then the rest will get the mesage to get out.

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