HomeMy WebLinkAbout5B Deer Hunt in Spring Lake Park O� P ���P
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Prior Lake. MN 55372
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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 9, 2013
AGENDA #: 5B
PREPARED BY: Frank Boyles, City Manager
PRESENTED BY: Frank Boyles
AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SPECIAL
DEER HUNT WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PRIOR
LAKE
DISCUSSION: Introduction
The purpose of this agenda item is to request that the Council adopt the at-
tached resolution authorizing a special bow deer hunt to control the deer herd in
the Spring Lake Regional Park.
Historv
The Prior Lake City Code Section 804.500 Special Hunts states, "the discharge
of a firearm in the City will be permitted by a person participating in a special
hunt, which is in compliance with State law and regulations established by the
Prior Lake City Council upon the recommendation of the Department of Natural
Resources, for the purpose of reducing animal populations that create a poten-
tial health, safety or general welfare problem in the City. The Prior Lake City
Council, on its own resolution, may authorize a special hunt, or a property own-
er may make application to the City Council to authorize a special hunt on such
property owner's lands."
For the last eighteen years, a special hunt has been conducted within Spring
Lake Regional Park property. Since the park is now within the City limits and
thirty-nine acres of the property are owned by the City, the Council's approval is
being solicited by the County once again for the special hunt.
Current Circumstances
Patricia Freeman, representing the Scott County Natural Resources Depart-
ment, has requested that a special deer bow hunting season be authorized by
the City Council on lands within Prior Lake. The bow hunting season is planned
for the following dates:
• September 20 — 24
• October 18 — 22
• November 15 — 19
The hunt would take place within Spring Lake Regional Park land. As a safety
buffer, no shooting is allowed with 25 yards (75 feet) of the property bounda-
ries. The City undeveloped park property located adjacent to the northwest cor-
ner of the regional park is not included in the hunt boundary as development of
the trail and off-leash area has diminished the bow-hunting quality of this area.
The County states that it is common practice for parks to remain open to the
public during archery hunts and they anticipate Spring Lake Regional Park to
remain fully open for public use during the hunt periods.
The County works cooperatively with the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base
which organizes the archers, ensuring proper training and experience. The
hunt is operated according to State hunting statute and City of Prior Lake ordi-
nance. Scott County establishes rules as well as regulating hunt day parking.
Scott County posts signs throughout the park at key access points to inform
visitors of the hunt and hunt periods. In addition, notification letters are sent to
property owners adjacent to the regional park and city land.
Security and emergency procedures are established and shared with the hunt-
ers addressing what to do if a wounded animal leaves the property, procedures
for hunter injury, process for resolving disputes between hunters and who to
contact at participating agencies for information.
ISSUES: In 2011, six animals were observed within the park and 13 on immediately ad-
jacent properties. A 2012 census was not completed due to poor conditions
(lack of snow). In recent years, three to nine animals were killed during the
hunt program. Deer can be destructive to adjacent properties if their numbers
result in too much competition for food. Moreover, they can constitute a hazard
for motor vehicles and their occupants.
The special hunt is well organized and complies both with State statute and City
Code as the ordinance requires. Safety precautions are taken for the benefit of
the hunters, visitors and adjacent property owners. There have been no acci-
dents associated with this event. Notification and communication procedures
are established for all of the above as well. In short, the issues which could be
., raised by this proposal appear to have been addressed. Attached is a program
summary which provides additional information.
FINANCIAL With the exception of staff time, there is no cost to Scott County or the City of
IMPACT: Prior Lake.
ALTERNATIVES: The two alternatives available to the Council are:
1. Approve the attached resolution authorizing the special deer bow hunt for
the locations and dates set forth therein.
2. Adopt the resolution with modifications.
3. Take no action and request additional information.
RECOMMENDED Alternative #1.
MOTION:
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Prior Lake. MN 55372
`�INxESO`��'
RESOLUTION 13-xxx
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SPECIAL DEER HUNT FOR THE
SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK PROPERTY
Motion By: Second By:
WHEREAS, For the last eighteen years, the Scott County Department of Natural Resources has
conducted a special hunt on the Spring Lake Regional Park property; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of the deer hunt is to control the herd for public safety and health
reasons; and
WHEREAS, The hunt is conducted in full accordance with State Statute and City Code; and
WHEREAS, Section 804 of the Prior Lake City Code provides for special hunts; and
WHEREAS, The hunt is proposed for the following dates:
■ September 20-24
■ October 18-22
■ November 15-19
WHEREAS, Safety and communication procedures have been established and a method for
communication is in place.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA as follows:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein.
2. A special bow deer hunt is hereby approved if conducted in compliance with Prior Lake City Code
Section 804 and in accordance with the "Scott County Spring Lake Regional Park 2013 White-tailed
Deer Management Hunt Program Summary" (including hunt location map).
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 9th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2013.
YES NO
Hedber Hedber
Keene Keene
McGuire McGuire
Morton Morton
Souku Souku
Frank Boyles, City Manager
Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com
2013 White-Tailed Deer Archery Hunt Program Summary
SCOTT COUNTY
SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK
2013 WHITE-TAILED DEER
ARCHERY HUNT PROGRAM SUMMARY
August 16, 2013
Program Purpose and Goals:
The purpose of the Spring Lake Regional Park deer management program is to control
the white-tailed deer population of the park in order to sustain the ecological health of
the park and to assist in minimizing human-deer conflicts on adjacent properties and
road-ways. The program is intended to limit over-browsing, and subsequent
degradation of native plant communities and rare species, and to serve as a proactive
measure in anticipation of future increased deer-human conflicts, such as collisions with
cars and residential landscape damage. In the future as the landscape surrounding the
park transitions to a more residential and less agricultural and natural one, the animals
are likely to adjust their eating habits to include residential landscaping materials and to
seek more of their diet from park vegetation. As is commonly seen in newly developing
areas, the change in landscape will likely not be accompanied by a reduction in deer
numbers. As the rural landscape is developed, hunting opportunities become restricted,
and as a result, there is often a substantial increase in animals. If sufficient habitat,
whether in the form of residential lots, agricultural fields or parks is available, deer
populations thrive without natural predators or hunting to limit their numbers.
Hunt Program Background and Operations:
This annual program has been conducted at Spring Lake Regional Park for over 18
years. The program is managed by the Scott County -Three Rivers Park District
Partnership through a partnership with the non-profit, volunteer organization, Metro
Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB). The hunt is operated in collaboration with the City
of Prior Lake and in accordance with state statue. The hunt requires authorization from
the local jurisdiction (City of Prior Lake) through a council resolution permitting a
'special hun�. Program rules are set by Scott County - Three Rivers Park District with
input from other stakeholders, such as the City.
The park is not posted as closed to visitors during the hunt. This is common practice
among municipalities and park agencies running white-tailed archery-hunt programs.
Spring Lake Regional Park remained fully open for public use during the hunt periods
last year which occurred after the park was developed with recreational amenities and
the park will remain open in 2013. Examples of similar and smaller sized-regional parks
in the Metro Area that remain open during archery hunts include Gale Woods Farm,
Fish Lake, Lake Minnetonka, and Noremberg Gardens regional parks.
Deer population control is accomplished using expert volunteer archers who are
required to be members of MBRB. MBRB organizes the archers, ensuring proper
1
2013 White-Tailed Deer Archery Hunt Program Summary
training and experience and choosing archers through a lottery system. These services
are provided free of charge to the County. The cost of the program includes Scott
County and Three Rivers Park District staff time and miscellaneous materials. Control
of the animals occurs during predetermined hunting periods, each falling withixi the
archery hunting season as determined by the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources. In recent years, three to nine animals has been killed per year during the
hunt program. An aerial census of white-tailed deer is completed annually during the
winter months, when weather conditions allow, for the park and adjacent properties. In
2011, 6 animals were observed within the park boundary and 13 on immediately
adjacent properties. A 2012 census was not completed due to poor conditions (lack of
snow).
Hunt Area
The hunt will take place within Spring Lake Regional Park (see map). Hunt boundaries
are set 25 yards in from adjoining properties. The hunt boundary at Spring Lake
Regional Park is based on the location of ameniiies and anticipated use patterns to limit
disruption of the hunt and to minimize the public's exposure to the hunt program. The
City of Prior Lake's undeveloped park property located adjacent to the northwest corner
of the regional park is not included in the hunt boundary this year. The 2012
development of the trail and off-leash area has further diminished the bow-hunting
quality of this area that offered marginal success previously.
Hunt Dates
There are three hunt periods scheduled for the 2013 hunt season:
• September 20 - 24
� October 18 - 22
• November 15 -19
Security and Emergency Procedures
City of Prior Lake Police Department and the County Sheriff's office are made aware of
and asked to consult on the program by County staff. The police departrnent and
sheriff's office are notified of hunt days, hunt boundaries and program contact
information.
MBRB archers participating in the hunt carry badges identifying them as program
participants. They are trained on proper procedures in case of non-emergency security
or safety situations and follow normal procedures in case of emergency (911). In the rare
event a wounded animal leaves the park property and moves into a residential area the
hunt coordinators contact local police (non-emergency phone number) and track the
animal in the company of local police or a conservation officer.
Public Information and Notification
Two weeks prior to and through the duration of the hunt, informational signs are posted
throughout the park at key access points to inform visitors about the program.
Notification letters are sent to property owners adjacent to the Regional Park.
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2013 White-Tailed Deer Archery Hunt Program Summary
Metro Bowhunters Resource Base
Metro Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB) is a volunteer, non-profit bow hunting
organization. The organization formed in 1995 for two primary reasons: to assist
municipalities with the control of rapidly increasing urban deer numbers and dispel the
general belief that relief from these issues could only occur through trap and kill, rifle
sharp-shooting or controlled firearm hunts. MBRB organizes and provides expert
volunteer archers to government agencies to assist in managing over-abundant deer
populations. In order to hunt with MBRB, archers must fulfill the DNR's Bowhunter
certification class and pass proficiency shooting tests. MBRB has a strict set of rules and
has high standards for team work and hunting ethics. Through its partnership with
MBRB, Scott County is ensured that only expert archers with the appropriate skills,
behavior and safety awareness pariicipate in the hunts.
For membership or other information about MBRB
Website: http://mbrb.org/mbrb/
Email: infoC�3mbrb.or�
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2013 White-Tailed Deer Archery Hunt Program Summary
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