ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Bow hunters would get a chance to help cull the deer herd in Queeny Park, under a bill that gained first-round approval in the St. Louis County Council.
Sponsoring councilman Tim Fitch says he has the support of several residents, is open to suggestions for alternatives. However, he says the proposal is time sensitive because the Missouri Department of Conservation would have to advertise and organize the hunt and select the hunters for this coming November.
Among those hesitant to say they'll support final passage of the plan is Affton councilwoman Lisa Clancy. She has safety concerns still, but says her mind could be changed after looking more into the safety measures proposed by the bill.
On the Town and County government page, there's a recommendation for 150 deer to be removed in the winter of 2019. Last January, 361 deer were removed from the population, achieving a population estimate of approximately 25 deer per square mile. There were 62 recorded deer / vehicle collisions in 2018, which is a 19 percent decrease compared to 2017.
Council Chair Sam Page says he supports culling the herd, but doesn't support bow hunting.