City of Oxford issued the following announcement on March 2
Since 2009, the City of Oxford has maintained a Deer Management Program (DMP) as a way to successfully mitigate deer population. Keeping our local herds at sustainable levels can have many positive effects on our city, environment and the herd itself.
History
Prior to 2009, there was a growing concern for the large number of deer that were perceived within the City limits. Residents were worried about landscape and environmental damage, as well as the possibility of an increasing number of automobile-deer accidents.
What is the solution?
Program Details
Oxford’s DMP allows for hunters to apply for a permit to hunt deer in one of several permissible program areas. Public safety, being one of great concern, is being preserved by many of the rules and regulations of the program. Some of these include:
- Program participants are only allowed to use bows authorized by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
- Participants are required to be in a tree stand for more visibility and a safer angle.
- Participants are required to pass the ODNR Hunter Safety Training Course.
- Participants are required to wear hunter orange at all times.
- The city-owned and private properties that participate in the DMP must have orange signs posted alerting the public of hunting in the area.
Each year, the program is assessed before the season begins to ensure the desired goals are on track and that safety measures are maintained.
How do abnormally large deer population numbers affect our town?
Large deer populations can have detrimental effects. A high population can lead to overgrazing which alters the natural ecosystem. It can prevent the growth of tree saplings and has the potential to eliminate all vegetation under six feet. Overpopulation of the herd can contribute to starvation and disease, as the herd struggles to support itself in an area deemed too small for its size.
Larger deer populations can also lead to an increase in deer - vehicle collisions.
The Silver Lining
While maintaining deer population to protect our environment (and our roads) was the goal of Oxford’s DMP, there have been other beneficial side-effects. Most importantly, the donation of venison to a local food bank. All program participants are required to donate, at minimum, their first deer to the Community Meal Center (CMC) in Hamilton, Ohio. The CMC has been provided with grants from ODNR and Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry to cover all processing costs.
Final Thoughts
Annually, the archery deer hunting season runs from late September until early February. The current season just ended on February 6th, 2022. A total of nine deer were harvested and eight of those were donated to the CMC! Since the program began in 2009, Oxford’s DMP has donated over 3,340 pounds of venison!
For more information, take a look, here:
Original source can be found here.
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