Bow Hunting Option For Deer Population Control Will Be Explored

Editor’s note: The following is part of a series a follow-up to the in Avon Lake. Councilwoman Jennifer Fenderbosch, the chairman of the Environmental Committee, discussed deer overpopulation with Avon Lake Patch. Fenderbosch has been studying the issue for more than a year. This is a continuation of articles on the deer population problem in Avon Lake.

Jennifer Fenderbosch, who has been following the growing deer population in Avon Lake needs to be addressed and is exploring bow hunting for population control within the city. Currently, bow hunting is legal in the city with a permit from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) but said the current ordinance does not address the issue of hunting due to overpopulation.

She recently addressed the issue at an Environmental Committee meeting and said the issue will be further discussed with Chief David Owad and the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board.

“I hope residents realize that bow hunting on agricultural property with a profit loss for vegetation is already allowed with a nuisance permit from ODNR,” Fenderbosch said. “Only one permit was taken out last year and none this year.

"It is not working toward guaranteeing a healthy herd where the ecosystem can support the existing herd. It is called ‘land load’: the amount of bedding, grazing, breeding land that offers the deer herd quality calories, safe space for grazing, bedding and breeding. ODNR states the Avon Lake ecosystem load is 40 to 50 deer.”

Fenderbosch said bow hunting for population control could be a solution.

“We’re not going to shoot off guns or shotguns in Avon Lake,” she said, adding that a marksmanship test would be required before getting a city-issued certificate.  “(Hunters) would have to have certificate on them.”

Hunters would have to have a property owner’s written consent, and hunting would only be permitted on the 11 properties more than 5 acres in size in Avon Lake.

“Maybe not all those people would give consent,” Fenderbosch said.

Hunting would only be permitted during hunting season with all the standard ODNR hunting rules with marksmanship added to it along with Owad's request for 5+ acres.

“These layers of proposed legislation would be on top of what ODNR requires,” Fenderbosch said. “The draft copy of amended legislation the EAAB will discuss would not limit it to agricultural property but would oblige Chief Owad's request to 5+ acres.”

Owad said he would wait until legislation was reviewed before commenting further.

Signs of overpopulation abound in Avon Lake

Fenderbosch said a recent deer count through a spotlighting process would put the estimated number of deer in Avon Lake close to 250.

“The deer spotlighting process we used is recognized by wild life management agencies and universities as an acceptable and credible process to estimate the size of a herd,” she said. “With a goal of a healthy herd one that is in balance with the environment and humans, one can readily see that there is an imbalance.”

The piebald (white) deer that have been spotted in the city is an indicator of DNA changes, as are the deer spotted with misplaced antlers and downed antlers.

“There are only 12 square miles (in Avon Lake), we should not be seeing one piebald deer let alone three,” she said. “Damage to the antlers from accidents, fighting or running into a tree can occur on occasion affecting antler formation. The overwhelming number of atypical antlers is evidence of DNA changes caused by overpopulation.”

Fenderbosch said the Kopf Reservation, part of the Lorain County Metro Parks, has suffered and the absence of flora on the under story and forest floor is a concern.

“This is the reason the Lorain County Metro Parks built the deer ‘exclosures,’ to see what would grow if deer did not have access to the forest floor,” she said. “After only one year wildflowers grew inside the caged areas where deer could not reach while the was void of greenery.”