Nov. 13, 2017 – West Bend, WI – The West Bend Common Council voted 5 – 2 Monday night with one alderman absent (Dist. 2 Steve Hutchins) approving a resolution to allow hunting in two city parks under strict rules that must still be approved by Council.
The hunting measure is designed to help manage the deer herd in the city.
The resolution below details how only adult bow hunters who pass a proficiency test will be allowed to hunt during a four day time span in January 2018.
The only parks where this will be allowed as a test is Lac Lawrann Conservancy and Ridge Run Park.
The deer committee still has to come back to the council with official rules on the effort.
The two aldermen voting against the resolution include Dist. 4 alderman Chris Jenkins and Dist. 8 aldermen Roger Kist.
DEER MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST BEND 2017-2018 COMMON COUNCIL
A Resolution Establishing Nuisance Hunt and Deer Management Committee within the City of West Bend
WHEREAS, the City of West Bend has determined there to be an over-population of deer within the City, and
WHEREAS, the City has determined that the over-population of deer constitutes a nuisance endangering the safety and property of the citizens of West Bend, and
WHEREAS, the City has considered a variety of mitigation tactics for the deer population.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of West Bend, Washington County, Wisconsin, as follows:
- City shall allow a limited regulated nuisance hunt on the conditions established herein to mitigate the deer population of the City.
- City shall apply for 20 nuisance permits through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to be used during the period of January 10th to January 14th, 2018 in the following parks: Lac Lawrann Conservancy and Ridge Run Park.
- The Deer Management Committee shall be established to manage and regulate the hunt. The Committee shall consist of eight (8) members serving on a year-to-year basis appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council. Members shall have expertise relating to hunting and/or the parks system and need not be a citizen of West Bend. The Mayor appoints and Council approves the following initial members of the Committee: Steve Hutchins, John Butschlick, Paul Schleif, Chris Dymale, Larry Polenski, Joanne Kline, Duane Farrand and Michael Jentsch.
- All hunters shall be adult citizens of the City and shall pass a proficiency test established by the Committee. Upon passage of the proficiency test, hunters shall be entered into a random lottery for hunting locations and permits.
- The Committee shall determine the specific hunting locations within each park. One randomly selected hunter shall be assigned to each designated location in the Committee’s discretion. The Committee may also randomly select alternate hunters to be assigned in the Committee’s discretion.
- Baiting shall be allowed for two weeks prior to the hunt as allowed by the rules and regulations established by the Committee.
- Each hunter shall be issued nuisance permits for the designated location. The hunter may bow hunt or crossbow hunt for deer from a tree stand. All shots taken shall have a downward trajectory.
- Each hunter shall notify the West Bend Police Department prior to entering the stand location and upon leaving the stand location.
- The Committee shall be responsible for determining safety regulations for the hunt, including but not limited to, closing a portion or all of a designated park to the public for the duration of the hunt.
- Hunters may keep one deer. All other harvested deer shall be donated to local food pantries through Wisconsin DNR’s established program.
- All rules established by the Committee shall be in full compliance with state and federal law, the Municipal Code of the City of West Bend, and the terms and conditions contained in this Resolution.
- Violation of any rule established herein or by the Committee may result in lifetime revocation of all future hunting privileges or other civil or criminal liability.
- This Resolution shall be reviewed by the Common Council prior to the commencement of the 2018-2019 hunting season.
Passed and Approved the 13th day of November, 2017
Ok so we’re do I sign up
Who do I contact for signing up and getting more information?
Try calling West Bend Parks Department at 335-5080
Is this hunt still open
I believe they had the testing on Saturday. It then went to a lottery – I will have to check with Alderman to see where they’re at with the process. The hunt is supposed to run Jan. 10 – 14.