Few issues are more contentious than how to manage whitetail deer in suburban areas.The majority of humans who live in towns and cities have little understanding of wildlife management, mainly because they weren’t raised in rural settings. People reared on farms know venison begins its journey to the dinner table because of a bullet or arrow, and fried chicken doesn’t spring into existence at a Kentucky Fried Chicken or a grocery store’s meat department.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission manages deer by allowing hunting. Besides providing revenue for the Commission through license sales, hunting provides the state millions of peripheral dollars, exercise for hunters, valuable sportsmanship lessons and protein.
However, with the loss of rural land, fewer residents understand why hunting is important. During the state’s pioneer days, people eradicated natural predators. Later, when market hunting was outlawed, deer had no enemies except hunters, and whitetail numbers exploded — especially in places where hunting wasn’t allowed.
Duke University Forest, where deer hunting was once banned, saw its whitetail numbers explode to 80 per square mile— the maximum should be less than half that. Deer also caused car crashes, especially at night, on NC 751, which winds through the forest.The university set up a season to stop animals from eating the environment in which Duke students study. In two seasons, hunters have taken 165 deer from Duke Forest.
Six miles down US 15-501, the town of Chapel Hill faces the same problem, and many, but not all residents seem reluctant to face reality.
The nearby Governor’s Club, a gated community, ended a depredation-permit archery hunt on April 15. Although the club’s Property Owners Association approved the hunt, a few vocal residents harassed archers. The POA had to issue warnings against No Trespassing signs, playing loud music and other disruptive actions.
But with hunters following Commission depredation-hunt rules — keeping venison isn’t allowed or it must be donated to charities — and being harassed, archers killed only seven whitetails in two months. The POA had hoped to remove 65 deer this year. One opponent later claimed the low harvest proved her point that the club didn’t have a deer problem. Another said because deer lived there before homeowners, they had property rights, and the POA had no right to have the herd thinned.
Chapel Hill’s town council held a 4-hour public hearing to consider joining the commission’s Urban Archery Program. Two neighborhoods had noted whitetails eating all vegetation within reach, plus deer-car collisions and a deer-tick infestation. Meanwhile, opponents claimed hunters are a danger to residents, and deer repellents or contraceptives should be used. The council voted for more study.
Some facts and approaches to reducing deer numbers should be evident: a) repellents and contraceptives don’t work effectively on deer; b) keeping venison would encourage urban archers to participate; c) residents should donate money to process venison for charities; d) archers can’t kill all the deer; e) the commission has no record of anyone shot accidentally by a bowhunter.
If it matters to them, Chapel Hill residents should understand these facts and at least give the Urban Archery Program a try.
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