By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
CARRBORO – In an effort to curb the growth of the exploding deer population in town, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen on Tuesday voted unanimously to ban the intentional feeding of deer within town limits and scheduled a future discussion to consider allowing bow hunting in town.
The ordinance prohibits residents from placing any fruit, grain, mineral, plant, salt vegetable or other material outdoors on any public or private property for the purpose of feeding or attracting deer. Violators are subject to a warning, followed by a $25 fine if materials aren’t removed within 48 hours. The ordinance also requires residents to remove or prevent access to anything on their property to which deer are attracted or from which they actually feed.
The ordinance doesn’t apply to naturally growing materials, stored crops or feeders used to provide food for domestic animals or livestock.
Ashley Stanford, a resident of Hillsborough Road, said the growing deer population is a danger to residents.
“The deer are everywhere, and if you stick your head in the sand and think … everything will be OK, you’re wrong,†he said. “They’re a health and safety issue, and they’re also aggravating.â€
“We need a solution now. Whether its bow hunting by people who are proficient at it or whether its me in my own backyard bow hunting, there has to be something that is done,†Stanford added.
Several representatives from bow hunting organizations urged the board to consider allowing bow hunting in town. Chapel Hill allows bow hunting if explicit permission is given by property owners.
Robert Reda, president of the local Broken Arrow Archery Club, said bow hunting is a safe, effective way to help control the deer population, noting that in a Chapel Hill neighborhood bow hunters removed 17 deer last year, effectively reducing the neighborhood’s deer population by 39 this year because of the number of does taken.
Board members said they felt torn on the issue of bow hunting and needed to hear from the public before making a decision.
“I think this is one of these issues where I feel like I need to hear from a whole bunch more people who live in Carrboro than we have heard from thus far,†Mayor Mark Chilton said. “I’m open to the possibility, but I’m also concerned about safety issues.â€
Board member Lydia Lavelle said she was concerned about the safety of bow hunting in a densely populated town like Carrboro.
“In the densest part of Carrboro, I really, really have an issue with it,†she said, adding that she might consider it in other parts of town.
The board will revisit the issue at a public hearing in January.
Would anyone with birdfeeders also be fined? If the ordinance doesn’t apply to growing materials, stored crops or feeders used to provide food for domestic animals or livestock, what sense does it make for the other things?
Bowhunting has never been, nor will it ever be a good deer management tool – it is merely recreational, and the most inefficient in killing deer; wounding rates are over 50%, according state wildlife agencies’ own records.
Where deer are being bowhunted in neighborhoods, residents are shocked at seeing wounded deer, with arrows protruding from different parts of their bodies – not a pretty picture, nor is it considered ethical by most.
Please, just Google accidents to learn that it isn’t safe to hunt in populated areas; people’s concerns on this issue are quite well-founded.