The deer population around the suburban areas continues to boom, and the list of complaints from homeowners losing their valuable landscaping is becoming endless — not to mention the number of deer-vehicle collisions is on the rise, with millions of dollars of damages nationwide.
Hunters are keeping deer populations in check in most areas of North Carolina, but in suburban and urban areas, where hunting is typically illegal, the deer population continues to grow.
Beginning in 2007, the Urban Archery Season was initiated by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission in an effort to control deer herds in suburban and urban settings. The program has allowed interested municipalities the opportunity to allow archery hunting within the city limits.
This season, 50 municipalities are enrolled in the program, with around 100 deer killed every year. This season, Urban Archer Season dates will be Jan. 11, 2015 to Feb. 15, 2015.
The Urban Archery Season is available for any municipality, but a letter of intent must be submitted, along with a map that clearly identifies the area where hunting is to be allowed. Filing must be before April 1 annually.
For more information, municipalities should contact the Commission at 919-707-0050 and request to be contacted by a wildlife biologist.
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