ShawneeDispatch.com

Johnson County Park and Recreation District officials announced today that the district would move forward with a secondary hunt to further reduce the deer herd in Shawnee Mission Park.

According to a survey completed last week by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, an estimated 73 deer per square mile still remain within Shawnee Mission Park and on the adjacent properties managed by the district.

Earlier this month the district conducted an initial culling within the greater Shawnee Mission Park area in an effort to reduce the number of deer to an estimated 50 deer per square mile. With the assistance of wildlife biologists and scientists, local law enforcement sharpshooters culled 313 deer from the herd in a four-day period that began on Nov. 1.

Meat from the culled deer was tested and processed to donated to Harvesters, and the skins were given to the Veterans Leather Program. Randy Knight, district spokesman, said the costs to process the deer looked to be about $19,900.

Knight said the district is still waiting for a final statement from White Buffalo, the firm hired to train police as sharpshooters and conduct the first hunt, but it appeared the cost would come in just less than $30,000.

The district had previously stated it had $50,000 set aside to cover costs associated with the deer cull.

A series of KDWP surveys immediately prior to the culling estimated the average number of deer per square mile to be 148. In 2007 and 2008 the agency had estimated the number to be 208 and 195, respectively.

Based on the latest survey data and in accordance with the deer management plan approved by the Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners in June, specially-certified archers will now be allowed to participate in a hunt in the park in order to reach the 50-deer-per-square-mile target.

This secondary harvest is scheduled to begin Dec. 9 and could continue through the month of January. It will be confined to closed and restricted areas of the park, and it will not impact regular park hours or interfere with regular park use.

Fifteen archers have been carefully screened and selected by the district to assist with the harvest. Officials said more than 130 archers had requested notification of the screening process and 32 submitted applications by the Oct. 5 deadline.

In addition to complying with all applicable state hunting requirements, the qualifying archers were required to pass an archery proficiency test and complete a special training program specific to deer management in Shawnee Mission Park.

At the completion of the secondary harvest, multiple surveys will be conducted to estimate and monitor the remaining deer in the park. The resulting data will be used to assist in developing effective strategies for the district’s ongoing deer management efforts. In each subsequent phase, the particular strategy or combination of strategies best suited for existing needs and conditions will be implemented.