The town of Jefferson is following Elkin's example and adding an urban bow-hunting season as a way to control a deer population that has become a nuisance.
Large forested areas that provide deer habitat, including Mount Jefferson, are close to such major roads as U.S. 221. "There's seldom a day goes by one is not hit on the bypass around Jefferson," Mayor Dana Tugman said of the deer.
The town board voted unanimously last week to allow bow hunters to kill deer during the urban season, starting next year. The board voted to meet the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's April 1 deadline for applying for the 2010 season.
Bill Burkette proposed the idea to the town. Burkette, who lives in Ashe County, traveled to Elkin last year when that town became the first in the state to have an urban deer-hunting season.
Burkette got permission from a landowner and set up on a small tract bounded by Interstate 77 on the east and by another road on the west.
"I was sitting on a road bank, and the deer was walking around down below," Burkette said. "You can basically see where the arrow is going to go if the arrow goes all the way through the deer."
Hunters killed 45 deer last year inside the Elkin town limits, and Burkette bagged two of them. He and his family eat venison, and he also gives meat away. He said that when Jefferson starts its season next year, he would like to see a program to provide the meat to needy families.
Elkin requested the bow season after numerous complaints from residents about the deer population.
Washington, N.C., also had an urban bow season last year but allowed hunting only on property around its airport and not within other areas of the town.
This year's season started Jan. 10 and will continue through Feb. 14. A total of 10 towns or cities are participating this year, including Elkin and Washington.
Brad Howard, the regional supervising biologist for the state wildlife resources commission, said that last year's pilot program was a safe, successful season. Adding a month for extra hunting of deer with bow and arrow won't stop deer and vehicle collisions, Howard said, but it's one way to help towns deal with burgeoning deer populations.
"It's very much a deer-management issue," he said.
Although last year marked the first season dedicated to urban bow hunting, bow hunters have hunted deer for years in some urban areas during regular hunting season.
■ Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal.com.
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