City Forms Deer Hunt Committee

The following article appeared in the Dominion Post on January 20, 2010

Publication: The Dominion Post; Date:2010 Jan 20; Section:Local; Page Number: 1-B
City forms deer hunt committee

Member: ‘This thing will not be necessary’


BY ALEX LANG The Dominion Post

Morgantown’s Urban Deer Committee has formed, and at least one member said he feels there is no need for a hunt.
“I think you are going to find this thing will not be necessary,” member Ray Swager told Morgantown City Council at its Tuesday meeting.
Swager said he talked with more than 200 residents, and more than 80 percent said they don’t see the deer as a problem. He canvassed door-to-door in some neighborhoods.
Dave Samuel will chair the committee. Other members include Morgantown Council member Marti Shamberger, BOPARC Director Mark Wise and a WVU representative. City Attorney Steve Fanok will be the city staff liaison. More committee members may be added.
Its first meeting will be Thursday.
Some city residents called for an urban hunt. They have said there is an increasing number of deer in the area, and they are becoming a nuisance and a health issue.
The committee will study whether Morgantown has a problem with deer, Swager said. While there is some anecdotal evidence, he said many others say it’s not a problem.
Swager also called for Samuel to be removed as the committee’s chair. Samuel is a retired wildlife professor who writes a hunting column for several publications, including The Dominion Post. Because of Samuel’s history, Swager called for him to be a person the group can turn to for information, but not the chair.
Samuel said he had no response to Swager’s comment. He said the mayor asked him to serve, and he will do so unless the council asks him not to. Samuel said he was probably chosen because he has worked with other municipalities when they established urban deer hunts. Wheeling, Weirton, Bridgeport and Bethlehem already have such hunts.
When the committee meets, Swager said he will suggest they have multiple public meetings. He said the area might not have an overpopulation problem, but the deer are an issue. “All I know is a lot of people are angry,” Samuel said. “Sitting here and not doing anything is a plan for disaster.”
Samuel said he would be surprised if Morgantown doesn’t join the other cities that already have deer hunts.
City Manager Dan Boroff said the group will develop a list of options for the council regarding the deer. He said he hopes the council will have the list in the next 3-4 months.