IFG: Killing deer at airport OK
SANDPOINT — The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has issued a special permit to the City of Sandpoint to allow for deer to be hunted on airport property, allow trapping of deer and to "humanely euthanize" the animals trapped.
Phil Cooper, Wildlife Conservation Educator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, said that using a firearm in the city limits is allowed if the council passes the ordinance to allow it. He said they make the decisions on where firearms are allowed to be used within a city.
"Cities govern themselves in terms of where a firearm can be shot," Cooper said. He said using a bow is considered a firearm.
Cooper said the city is not in violation of any Fish and Game rules, as long as a cross bow is not used, the hunter has valid permits, it is a hunting season and the firearm being used is legal.
Airport Manager Dave Schuck had requested the use of cross bows, which the council denied during the regular council meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 2. Cooper said that using them is only permitted for people who cannot physically pull back a long bow and a different permit is required.
The special permit allows for the trapping of up to 30 whitetail deer on or adjacent to airport property, limited to trapping by airport employees only, or to harvest deer outside the normal season framework. Cooper said this allows for trapping of animals outside of hunting season and transporting or euthanizing trapped animals with a firearm or bolt gun.
Cooper said the permit is valid once the city starts enforcing the no-feeding ordinance. Police Chief Corey Coon said the department is always enforcing ordinances, however, they are not aware of every problem in terms of feeding big game.
“We enforce all of our ordinances to the best we can,” Coon said. He said he is unaware of being called to the airport by a complaint of someone feeding the deer.
“There are people feeding deer and that's really adding to the problem,” Cooper said.
Drugs will not be used on trapped or transplanted animals, and they should all be treated humanely, the permit said. Ear tagging of the animals is allowed but not required. The airport must build their own Clover traps, according to the permit, typically a metal frame with net material, to trap deer. Hunters may also be used during normal seasons to help with managing the deer population.
“They can decide who can hunt there,” Cooper said.
Fish and Game can impose additional stipulations to the permit and can revoke it immediately.
Cooper said the airport has not reported any deer transports or killings since the council approved the motion on Wednesday.
There are about 10-12 deer that frequent the airport, Schuck said to the council. Schuck said the deer are no longer frightened of airplanes and have become comfortable in their surroundings.
“If we were able to take 10 or 12 animals, we would stop our efforts and see how things responded,” Schuck said to the council. “Our hope, our goal, is that we are able to trap anything that gets in there.”
According to the Sandpoint Airport Comprehensive Deer Management Plan, which Cooper said was written in April by Fish and Game to outline the steps the airport should take, there are four months of deer seasons to help with the deer population. September is archery hunting season, with about seven weeks of general any weapon hunting from October through December. The plan states a recommendation for elevated stands and short range weapons.
“Short range weapons include muzzleloaders, shotguns, archery equipment and certain handguns,” the SACDMP plan states. “The utilization of firearms is much more effective at harvesting deer than restricting the equipment to archery only.”
All animals will be salvaged for human consumption and given to the local food bank.
“Deer not transplanted will be humanely euthanized, processed by a butcher and donated to the local food bank of the community,” the SACDMP said.
The special permit was issued by Fish and Game June 15, with the SACDMP dated April 6.