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At Weston Landfill: Town OKs a Deer Hunt

Written by Patricia Gay of The Weston Forum, 203-761-0530  

A controlled deer hunt can help the town of Weston make a difference in lowering its deer population and combating Lyme disease, according to Mark Harper, Weston’s animal control officer.

Mr. Harper asked the Board of Selectmen on Thursday, Oct. 16, for permission to hold a controlled deer hunt at the town’s transfer station on Godfrey Road East.

Mr. Harper said while he recently was walking the 54-acre tract of town-owned land surrounding the transfer station, he saw 27 deer. “There are pockets of deer in town. Some are under control and others are not under control. I’ve seen a tremendous amount of deer at the landfill,” Mr. Harper said.

His goal is to bring the number of deer down to a “reasonable and manageable level... Ideally, I’d like to see that number decrease by half,” he said.

Over the years, the deer population in Weston has grown in certain areas of town, and Mr. Harper said the spread of Lyme disease has grown as well, which is the main reason for the hunt. “I myself have had Lyme twice, and I know there are many people in Weston affected by Lyme disease,” he said.

The disease is caused by infected ticks which spread Lyme disease bacteria by biting people or animals. In the Northeast and Midwest, deer ticks carry the Lyme disease bacteria.

Lyme disease can cause mild, flu-like symptoms such as headache and fatigue in some people. Others are struck with more severe conditions such as muscle aches, paralysis, Bell’s palsy, and loss of vision.

In addition to curbing the tick population, Mr. Harper said the deer population could use thinning for safety and environmental reasons as well.

“There are a lot of car accidents involving deer, and our forests are being damaged from the deer feeding on them,” Mr. Harper said. He said habitats for birds have also been affected by the deer. (See related story below)

Other hunts

Mr. Harper said deer overpopulation is a real problem in Fairfield County, and several towns in the area such as Wilton, Ridgefield, New Canaan, Darien, and Brookfield, are holding controlled hunts to bring the levels down.

He noted there are already some controlled hunts going on in Weston. “There is a controlled hunt at Devil’s Den each year and at Trout Brook Valley. The water company also holds controlled hunts on its property,” Mr. Harper said.

Deer hunting is also allowed on private land in Weston with the owner’s permission, and that helps reduce the deer population in some areas of town.

Still, Mr. Harper would like to see some thinning done on town land as well. “I’d like to see if we can get the number of deer down at the landfill. I know there are too many deer there,” he said.

Mr. Harper said he would like the hunt to be done on a trial basis this year. “If it goes well, we will reassess every year to see if this land needs to be re-hunted or if another area does,” he said. “It’s up to the selectmen each year to make a decision.”

Plan

Mr. Harper said there would be a plan for the controlled hunt. “First, we would notify all abutting property neighbors, so they know about it,” he said.

He said the hunt would be held on an on-going basis until the end of December, when it will stop. Hunting will take place on weekdays only, during daylight hours when children are in school. Only bowhunting will be allowed, no guns.

Mr. Harper said safety is very important and he will personally select the hunters allowed on the property. His intent is to allow two Weston police officers and one state trooper, all who are experienced and licensed bowhunters, to conduct the hunt, with no more than two hunters allowed on the property each day.

“It’s important that we have hunters that know what they’re doing, and will point downwards with their bows. We don’t want arrows flying off,” Mr. Harper said.

After the selectmen’s meeting, Police Chief John Troxell said it was not likely Weston Police Officers would participate in the hunt because of compensation and union issues.

Mr. Harper did not say how the hunt would be funded or how the hunters would be paid. He personally does not intend to participate, but he would assist in supervision to make sure things go smoothly.

The hunters will be targeting female does rather than male bucks, Mr. Harper said, because thinning the does is better for keeping the population down. He said after each day of the hunt, the hunters will be required to report to him the number and sex of each deer killed.

If the hunters do not want all the deer meat from the hunt, Mr. Harper said he will personally butcher it and distribute the venison to families in Weston who need it and want it.

Concerns

First Selectman Woody Bliss said he was not adverse to the plan because there had been controlled hunts at Devil’s Den with no problems. However, he was concerned with how some members of the public will perceive it.

“To my friends who are not pro hunting, I respect every individual’s belief. If there was an effective contraception that worked on the deer for birth control, I would support it, but there isn’t,” Mr. Harper said.

He said those who are concerned or want more details about the hunt should call him at 222-2642.

After Mr. Harper’s presentation, the selectmen voted unanimously to authorize the first selectmen to authorize the permits for a controlled hunt at the town’s transfer station this fall.