THUNDER BAY – A large number of deer inside Thunder Bay city limits may be reduced as there will be a controlled deer hunt by bow and arrow permitted on the property of private landowners located in regulated rural and semi-rural areas of the city starting on September 1, 2012.
The controlled hunt will run to December 15 and will be governed by the City of Thunder Bay’s deer hunt bylaw passed on May 2012 and the provincial hunting regulations for archery equipment.
The hunt is part of the City’s deer management strategy to deal with the overpopulation of deer that has resulted in increased deer/vehicle accidents, property damage caused by deer and potential health risks like Lyme disease associated with deer ticks.
An Information Session will be held Thursday, August 23 from 7 PM to 9 PM at Confederation College in Lecture Room 351 to explain rules and regulations for the controlled hunt.
City of Thunder Bay Licensing & Enforcement, Thunder Bay Police and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources will be on hand to explain their roles in administering the deer hunt and answer questions that rural city property owners, potential bow hunters and interested citizens may have.
“The rules and regulations take into account public safety and the humane kill of deer,” said Ron Bourret, Manager of Licensing & Enforcement.
“Mission Island and McKellar Island, the most visible areas for deer in the city, are off-limits for hunting”, added Bourret, pointing out that hunting will only be allowed on private property in regulated rural areas generally west and north of the Thunder Bay Expressway and south of the Kaministiquia River.
Bowhunters will require the written consent from the rural property owner, as well as neighbouring property owners in some cases, before hunting on private land in the regulated areas. Bowhunters must hunt from a stand at least three metres off the ground and must provide at least a 75-metre radius from a road or a dwelling to ensure public safety. Hunters must abide by the provincial regulations for hunting deer with archery equipment. This includes having a valid outdoors card and the proper tags to hunt deer.
The City of Thunder Bay’s deer management strategy also includes a bylaw that prohibits the feeding of deer with more information at www.thunderbay.ca/deer.