Deer overpopulation in the Pinery

[SamuraiCO]

Reading the local Parker paper on Saturday the ongoing discussion of deer overpopulation in the Pinery came up again because a buck that had been hit by an arrow had to be euthenized. The locals are concerned about the deer getting into their yards and eating plants. Some residents even feed the deer adding to the problem. I live just north of the Pinery in a subdivision and had a nice 4 point just walk down the middle of our street as I was heading out to the grocery store yesterday morning.

They can't seem to get around the fact if they want them culled someone has to kill them. The guy at the bird seed store seemed to think they could dart the deer with a contraceptive and control the herd. I stated they should allow a draw for bow hunters or by application and let them cull one trophy bull but also cull some does every year. Residents could help fund by buying the meat or jerky from the deer, lucky bow hunter gets to keep the trophy buck. But they are too prissy and the deer will die off from starvation or disease. Out of site out of mind for those fools.

I had to put up extra fencing across my fence in my back yard to keep the deer out durikng the winter months. They would even bed down under my pine trees overnight after they ate all the safflower seeds from my bird feeders and whatever else they wanted to munch on. No amount of chasing them off with my dogs would keep them out. The fence has worked great even though it is against the HOA's but they can blow me if they will do nothing about it. They certainly would not condone me taking them with a bow in my yard.

Just thought it was funny how they struggle with such a problem when the solution is often the simplest.

[rpm]

We have the same problem east of Parker. I've called the DOW every year for the past four trying to get an understanding of how they plan on addressing the issue or if they plan on letting disease lay waste to the herds. I have seen some of the largest mulie bucks in my life in the past couple of years, one in particular off Delbert road that my brother and I have name the 'elk-deer' due to his massive rack. In fact, my wife hit a buck on Delbert road just the other night, I can't wait to see the repair bill on her plastic Honda Pilot.

The DOW did give some special permit tags on a tree farm out here a couple of years ago - rifle tags on less than 60 acres. I was given a tag but I couldn't make a shot I felt was safe. Archery tags would be great, there are plenty of areas out of sight of homes where deer could easily and humanly be harvested to help thin the herds and ultimately keep them healthier. Hopefully someone is listening over there.

[jplove71]

Or... They can stop killing wolves which are the natural predators to deer, elk, etc...

[Dryfli]

According to the Dow there are no wolves in colorado. Also having kids I think I rather deal with the over population of deer than wolves, as deer don't eat children. The problem is Douglas county my friend lives across the road from the boundary of D.C. In Elizabeth and is able to take 2 or 3 doe every year even though he is on a small property.

[spqrzilla]

Yeah ... a pack of wolves running through Parker. That's the solution.

[rondog]

I may be wrong, but I've been told that if your property isn't in the city limits, you have a proper deer license, and you can make the shot without the bullet leaving your property, then you can shoot one. I know a guy out there that takes a deer every year from his deck. Last time he was in his bathrobe drinking coffee, and had to go put his orange vest on over his robe before he shot. Said he's counted as many as 44 mulies at one time in his yard. He has 5 acres.

[Delfuego]

Deer have become a real nuisance species in the Pinery. They are over-populated, eat everything in sight (flowers, tree, shrubs, whatever) and have started to develop disease. There have also recently been large cats sighted in the area, likely looking to prey on them. My family's little doggy (terrier) went head to head with a bull elk in the back yard and lost miserably (costly vet bill). Something needs to be done, not sure what, but it is out of control.

[hatidua]

Deer have become a real nuisance species in many Colorado suburbs

FIFY

Or... They can stop killing wolves which are the natural predators to deer, elk, etc...

-pinstriped unicorns riding blue whales in Arizona are significantly more common than wolves in Colorado.

[Wulf202]

Its an underpopulated area for rednecks and hillbillies not overpopulated with deer

[Irving]

According to the Dow there are no wolves in colorado. Also having kids I think I rather deal with the over population of deer than wolves, as deer don't eat children. The problem is Douglas county my friend lives across the road from the boundary of D.C. In Elizabeth and is able to take 2 or 3 doe every year even though he is on a small property.

I was just over on the wolf forums and they are complaining about the need to cull the overwhelming people population.