SILVER LAKE: Mayor Bernie Hovey wants to see the local deer population reduced, saying the animals have become a problem in the village.
Admitting that culling deer is controversial, the mayor said last week that he will discuss a proposal with the council to allow bow and arrow hunters to kill deer during the state’s next archery season.
He stressed that his goal would be to permit bow hunters in the park property located behind the village administration building off Kent Road, and there are no plans to allow hunting on residential property.
“I understand the issues and both sides but the bottom line is they are a hazard in the village,” Hovey said.
The deer are dangerous for motorists and have frightened some residents by being aggressive because they are not afraid of people, he added.
It’s unclear how many deer live in Silver Lake, a community of about 2,500 people.
Archery season runs from late September to early February in Ohio.
The village seems split on the proposal, although the mayor believes some people are opposed only because they wrongly assume hunting would be allowed on residential properties.
Council President Jerry Jones said it’s a divisive issue, and even he is on the fence about what to do.
“I’ve had a lot of people tell me that we need to do something about it,” he said. “Others are very vocal about leaving them alone because they’re part of nature.”
An Ohio Division of Wildlife official made a presentation about deer last week before the Village Council and answered questions from the public.
Geoff Westerfield, assistant wildlife management supervisor, said residents shouldn’t be worried about safety.
“Hunting in municipal limits isn’t the oddity anymore,” he said at the meeting. “There are a lot of towns that allow hunting that are even ... denser than Silver Lake.”
At the meeting, many residents criticized the proposal.
“Killing wildlife is unthinkable,” resident Mary Lou Van Sise said.
But when the council polled the audience, 14 people were against and 11 were in favor.
“This is the norm in any city I go to,” Westerfield said about the results. “Half the hands up one way. Half the hands go up the other way.”
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .