Kansas City parks traditionally are havens for deer searching for rich foliage, but officials again this year will allow hunters into some parks to reduce the wildlife population.
The parks that will be open for special archery deer hunting are Tiffany Springs Park, Riverfront Park, Hodge Park and Jerry Smith Park.
The hunting will be in wooded areas away from trails and picnic areas frequently used by the public, said Debra Burns, a wildlife management supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Department officials are coordinating the hunts with the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department.
Officials are trying to reduce deer herds at urban parks to make highways safer from deer-vehicle collisions and to protect park habitat from damage caused by too many deer. Similar bow hunts for deer have been conducted for several years at other state, city and county parks in the area.
“In areas where we’ve had them for 12 years, we do see a decrease in the deer herd,” Burns said.
In hunts last year at Tiffany Springs and Riverfront parks, there were no problems as archers killed more than 40 deer.
Registration for this fall’s hunt is closed and the slots are full, Burns said. There will be 105 hunters. All will use tree stands and they will be shooting toward the ground at close range for safety.
Park officials say they hope the hunts also will discourage illegal firearms hunting in remote areas.
THE HUNT SCHEDULE
•Riverfront Park, now through Nov. 25.
•Hodge Park, Saturday through Nov. 25.
•Jerry Smith Park, Saturday through Dec. 9.
•Tiffany Springs Park, Nov. 24 through Dec. 9.
Source: http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/346965.html
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