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Home My WebLink About05(K) - Resolution Approving the Scott County Three Rivers Park District to Conduct the 2025 White-Tail Deer Management Hunt Program Report ITEM: 5K CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: September 23, 2025 PREPARED BY: Heidi Simon, City Clerk PRESENTED BY: Jason Wedel, City Manager AGENDA ITEM: Resolution Approving the Scott County Three Rivers Park District to Conduct the 2025 White-Tail Deer Management Hunt Program RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt a resolution authorizing the Scott County Three Rivers Park District to conduct the 2025 White-Tail Deer Management Hunt Program within the corporate limits of the City of Prior Lake. BACKGROUND: For over twenty years, a special hunt has been conducted within Spring Lake Regional Park property. Since the park is within the City limits, the Council's approval is being solicited by the County once again for the special hunt. The hunt area does not include the 39 acres owned by the city where the pickleball courts are located. John Moriarty, Senior Manager of Wildlife with the Scott County Natural Resources Department, has requested that a special deer bow hunting season be authorized by the City Council on lands within Prior Lake. There are two hunt periods, which will be Monday-Wednesday, scheduled for the 2025 hunt season: th  October 6 – 8th rdth  November 3 – 5 The hunt would take place within Spring Lake Regional Parkland (see attached map). As a safety buffer, no hunting is allowed within 25 yards (75 feet) of the property boundaries. 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 the City of Prior Lake ordinances. Scott County establishes rules as well as regulates 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. City of Prior Lake | 4646 Dakota Street SE | Prior Lake MN 55372 Item 5K Page | 2 Security and emergency procedures are established and shared with the hunters addressing what to do if a wounded animal leaves the property, procedures for hunter injury, the process for resolving disputes between hunters, and who to contact at participating agencies for information. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and second as part of the consent agenda to adopt a resolution approving the special deer bow hunt for the locations and dates set forth therein. 2. Motion and second to remove this item from the consent agenda for additional discussion. ATTACHMENTS: 1. 25- Special Hunt Spring Lake Regional Park Resolution 2. Spring Lake Deer Program Summary 2025 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 RESOLUTION 25- A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SPECIAL DEER HUNT FOR THE 2025 SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK PROPERTY Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, for over twenty years, the Scott County Three Rivers Park District 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 population 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: thth  October 6 – 8 rdth  November 3 – 5 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: 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 Three Rivers Park District Spring Lake Regional Park 2025 White-tailed Deer Archery Hunt Program Summary” (including hunt location map). rd PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 23 DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025. VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ______________________________ Jason Wedel, City Manager Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com 2025White-Tailed Deer Archery Hunt Program Summary 1 SCOTT COUNTY/THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK 2025 WHITE-TAILED DEER ARCHERY HUNT PROGRAM SUMMARY September 4, 2025 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 20 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 hunt’. 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 2025. Examples of similar and smaller sized-regional parks in the Metro Area that remain open during archery hunts include Gale Woods Farm, Fish Lake, Eagle Lake, and French 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 2025White-Tailed Deer Archery Hunt Program Summary 2 training and experience and choosing archers through a lottery system. These services are provided free of charge to the Park District. 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 within the archery hunting season as determined by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Since 2022, four to five animals have been killed per year during the hunt program. An aerial census of white-tailed deer is normally completed annually during the winter months, but was not conducted this past winter because of a lack of snow. The 2022-23 survey found 15 deer which was similar to previous surveys. 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 amenities 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. We have added a new area adjacent to the northwest portion of the park. This is City of Prior Lake and the addition was approved by City staff. Hunt Dates There are two hunt periods, which will be Monday –Wednesday, scheduled for the 2025 hunt season: • October 6-8 • November 3-5 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 department and sheriff’s office are notified of hunt days, hunt boundaries and program contact information. MBRB archers participating in the hunt carry cards 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. 2025White-Tailed Deer Archery Hunt Program Summary 3 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 teamwork and hunting ethics. Through its partnership with MBRB, Scott County is ensured that only expert archers with the appropriate skills, behavior and safety awareness participate in the hunts. For membership or other information about MBRB Website: http://mbrb.org/mbrb/ Email: info@mbrb.org 2025White-Tailed Deer Archery Hunt Program Summary 4