March 5, 2019 – West Bend, WI – It’s been a while since anyone has been updated on the sharp shooters and their success at trimming the number of deer in Ridge Run Park and Lac Lawrann Conservancy.
It was December 2018 when Tommy Schwai walked us into the freezer area to seven deer turned in by sharp shooters.
Schwai’s is processing the deer free of charge and donating the meat to the Full Shelf Food Pantry in West Bend.
The sharp shooters were contracted by the City of West Bend for a managed hunt at $9,002. The cooperative service agreement with the USDA Wildlife Service indicates the sharp shooters will target the removal of 30 deer per park.
The City applied for a $5,000 Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control grant to help offset the expense.
As of Monday night, March 4 the city confirmed 33 deer had been removed by the sharp shooters and the effort would continue through mid-March.
The city is targeting a reduction in deer numbers in an effort to reduce deer damage to habitat, property and car/deer collisions.
“Our contracted sharp shooters have been making good progress toward the overall herd-reduction goal,” said Mayor Kraig Sadownikow. “We are happy with their efforts to date and are pleased thus far.”
This is the second year the City is attempting to reduce the deer population.
During an archery hunt at the end of December 2017 three hunters managed to kill three deer in a span of five days. Thirty-five pounds of venison was donated to the Full Shelf Food Pantry.
The licensed sharp shooters are performing the hunt during the evening at Ridge Run Park and Lac Lawrann Conservancy.
The hunt will be conducted while the parks are closed.
Thanks to Tommy Schwai for processing the meat free of charge and donating it to the Full Shelf Food Pantry in West Bend.
