urban deer

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Almost every small community in the Highland Lakes is struggling with an invasion of deer and Granite Shoals residents gathered Saturday, June 27, to hear about the their city's effort—the only archer program certified in the state by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).

About 65 citizens came to the Town Hall Meeting on Urban Deer, where the city's Wildlife Advisory Committee (WAC) reported on the first year of the pilot program. The committee had been formed in March 2014 on the recommendation of TPWD experts on urban deer who had urged two essential elements in reducing urban deer—community education and a “no deer feeding” ordinance.

If this meeting was any indication, the education effort has begun work.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

City deer turn out to be as crafty as they are numerous and not nearly as dumb as they look standing in the middle of traffic, judging by a report presented by the Granite Shoals City Council on Jan. 10.

Overrun by urban deer, the city received permission from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) to conduct a pilot archery program to reduce their numbers. The program with stringent rules for hunters and hunting sites was organized by the Granite Shoals Wildlife Committee and the program began Oct. 4.

“Why is it, after a grand total of 762 hours donated by volunteers, we have just 71 deer removed,” asked Mayor Carl Brugger. “This is a good report and we want to thank the committee, but I am just wondering why the number seems low.”

Glynis Crawford Smith/The Highlander

An ambitious plan for streets, an old debate over the airport and a pilot program to thin urban deer all were tackled by the Granite Shoals City Council Tuesday, Feb. 9.

See the story in the Friday, Feb. 12, edition of The Highlander.