The west central unit, whose primary habitat is the Kraemer Nature Preserve, has 77 to 140 deer per square mile of habitat. The northwest unit, whose primary habitat is the river valley, has 68 to 90 deer per square mile of habitat. The southwest unit, whose primary habitat is Murphy-Hanrehan and Cam Ram Park, has 53 to 57 deer per square mile of habitat. The east central unit, whose primary habitat is Terrace Oaks Park, has 49 to 96 deer per square mile of habitat. The options need to be applied in ways that best suit the objectives of the plan as well as the specifics of the community and the size of the areas where the deer are considered a problem, Kunkel said.
Safety is a primary factor.
Similarly with archery, you don t want anybody just wandering onto private residential lots to hunt. Publicly controlled hunting is an inexpensive way to remove deer because hunters are eager to hunt in urban areas where they re generally prohibited, Kunkel said. The Parks and Natural Resources Commission opened a hearing on the plan April 3 that will continue at the commission s May 1 meeting.