City Deer Problems

Many cities in America have problems with deer, and they know it. The reason is that the suburbs have problems with deer, and they don't know it.

Locally, it's Jamestown, New York that has the problem. The city council has debated and discussed it, and so far haven't determined what to do about. But the problem is much simpler than most people think it is. Deer are where they shouldn't be because they've exceeded the carrying capacity on property where they should be.

The solution to the problem is not so simple. Any remedy in the city comes up with will have limited, short-term success unless the problem is addressed outside the city. That's where the deer are coming from because the carrying capacity of the properties outside the city has been exceeded. It's no wonder then that deer move to places where food is abundant and they find safety.

Jamestown isn't unique. The problem is everywhere. The photo of the buck at the right comes from a Chicago suburb, an area with many preserves where no hunting is allowed, and many large lots interspersed among them where property owners enjoy seeing the deer and tolerate the impact they have on their properties.

I was asked to write the lead story in the November 8, 2021 Jamestown Gazette. In it I explain why Jamestown has so many deer, and I encourage property owners outside the city to open their properties to hunting. Read "Deer Management Requires Cooperation" and see why that's the only long-term solution.

To access more of my writing on hunting topics, go to the home page of my blog, Mission: Hunter.