(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
November 12, 2015 - 1:00 PM
VERNON - There’s talk about using bow hunting to help manage the deer population in Vernon.
Coun. Brian Quiring made the suggestion at a council meeting Nov. 9, noting the city is overrun with deer.
“There are so many deer it’s unbelievable,” Quiring said.
He added the sheer volume of deer crossing city roads is a danger to motorists.
“I think (bow hunting) is a good way to manage the population,” Quiring said.
In particular, he said farmers and orchardists should be allowed to deal with deer on their own property. His question was whether or not bow hunting is even allowed in the city.
There was some discussion about the previous council banning it, but the city’s firearms and weapons bylaw makes it clear that bow hunting is definitely allowed in Vernon.
There are rules, of course. First, you can’t operate a cross bow or long bow just anywhere. The activity is prohibited within city limits, unless you’re hunting or doing predator control on properties over two hectares in size. Bona fide farmers are also exempt, and are permitted to bow hunt when destroying predators or protecting crops on their property.
Bow hunters must comply with the Wildlife Act and Farm Practices Protection Act. All arrows used must be marked in a manner to allow the identification of the owner.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015