SongDoghunter
01-13-2010, 08:59 AM
Daily News this morning!
EMERALD ISLE — Winter hours take effect Wednesday at Emerald Isle Woods Park, and there’s a safety reason for the public to abide by the posted hours.
The Town of Emerald Isle is anticipating approval this week of a requested depredation permit from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, which will allow the town to implement plans to thin the increasing deer population.
While hunting is prohibited in Emerald Isle, the permit will allow the town to authorize bow and arrow hunting by designated individuals for a limited time. The town only plans for hunting to take place within Emerald Isle Woods during January and February while the winter hours are in place. Winter hours at the 43-acre site will be 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. through Feb. 28.
No trespassing is allowed after hours, and all hunting will take place when the park is closed. Town Manager Frank Rush said the gate will be locked and there is signage at the entrance and other locations around the perimeter of the park indicating the winter hours. Fliers were also to be distributed at homes around the property and to homeowner associations at nearby neighborhoods.
While the town is counting on public education to keep the citizens out of the park, Rush said the hunting will be done in a very controlled manner.
Rush said the town will be using two members of its police department to do the hunting and they will be doing so from elevated stands, which are said to give clearer view and wider field of vision.
“We’re not opening up hunting to the general public, and no permits for hunting are being issued,” Rush said.
Rush said all deer meat will be donated to feed the hungry.
The town’s decision to seek the depredation permit follows a recent count that showed the deer population has doubled in recent years.
Robbie Norville, district wildlife biologist for the Wildlife Resources Commission, coordinated a deer population estimate along the Coast Guard Road area in November 2009 and a comparison to a similar count in 2005 showed a significant increase.
The estimated deer population in the area in 2005 was 66 to 92 deer, which was considered to be in an acceptable range for a community such as Emerald Isle. The latest estimate is 149 deer, which is considered relatively high for the town, Rush said.
Rush has said that with the increasing population the town has received more concerns from residents regarding deer damaging landscaping, motor vehicle collisions involving the animals and tick-borne diseases.
EMERALD ISLE — Winter hours take effect Wednesday at Emerald Isle Woods Park, and there’s a safety reason for the public to abide by the posted hours.
The Town of Emerald Isle is anticipating approval this week of a requested depredation permit from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, which will allow the town to implement plans to thin the increasing deer population.
While hunting is prohibited in Emerald Isle, the permit will allow the town to authorize bow and arrow hunting by designated individuals for a limited time. The town only plans for hunting to take place within Emerald Isle Woods during January and February while the winter hours are in place. Winter hours at the 43-acre site will be 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. through Feb. 28.
No trespassing is allowed after hours, and all hunting will take place when the park is closed. Town Manager Frank Rush said the gate will be locked and there is signage at the entrance and other locations around the perimeter of the park indicating the winter hours. Fliers were also to be distributed at homes around the property and to homeowner associations at nearby neighborhoods.
While the town is counting on public education to keep the citizens out of the park, Rush said the hunting will be done in a very controlled manner.
Rush said the town will be using two members of its police department to do the hunting and they will be doing so from elevated stands, which are said to give clearer view and wider field of vision.
“We’re not opening up hunting to the general public, and no permits for hunting are being issued,” Rush said.
Rush said all deer meat will be donated to feed the hungry.
The town’s decision to seek the depredation permit follows a recent count that showed the deer population has doubled in recent years.
Robbie Norville, district wildlife biologist for the Wildlife Resources Commission, coordinated a deer population estimate along the Coast Guard Road area in November 2009 and a comparison to a similar count in 2005 showed a significant increase.
The estimated deer population in the area in 2005 was 66 to 92 deer, which was considered to be in an acceptable range for a community such as Emerald Isle. The latest estimate is 149 deer, which is considered relatively high for the town, Rush said.
Rush has said that with the increasing population the town has received more concerns from residents regarding deer damaging landscaping, motor vehicle collisions involving the animals and tick-borne diseases.