Council Renews Program that Keeps Deer Population Under Control

The city of Oakdale will continue to crack down on deer population control after the city council renewed an agreement with the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base Tuesday night.

MBRB works with the state Department of Natural Resources and metro communities to help control deer population through bowhunting, according to its website.

The organization works with cities to administer safe and special hunts during the year to help with deer population problems.

The city first entered into an agreement with MBRB in 2005 after receiving multiple complaints from residents about deer. Since starting the program a total of 84 deer have been harvested.

"It's necessary to keep the deer population in check and healthy," said Councilman Stan Karwoski.

Bowhunters used to hunt at the , however, the city changed that this year since many residents walk in the area.

Bowhunters hunt in six designated spots in the city:

• The Lake Mary area north of Stillwater Boulevard and east of Highway 120.
• South of Highway 5 near the KTIS tower site.
• The area south of Furlong Park, west of Granada Avenue and south of 48th Street.
• The Oakdale Public Works building area near City Hall.
•  The area near the 1500 block of Gershwin Avenue.
• Goodwin Park, north of 40th Street.

The city established designated hunting days for 2012:

• Oct. 6-7
• Oct. 20-21
• Nov. 3-4
• Nov. 10-11

These are the only times hunters are allowed to hunt. Hunters must still follow DNR laws. 

"We've never had an accident as a result of this program," said Brian Bachmeier, the city engineer.

The agreement passed 5-0. 

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