9/17/12 - Deer Problem - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

It looks like those in favor of an urban deer hunt in Cape Girardeau will have to head back to the chalkboard and draw out a better game plan. Late last week opponents of Cape's urban deer hunting ordinance had their petition to put the issue before the people certified. Almost 4,000 citizens affirmed their opposition to the proposed hunt. Democracy worked. People upset with their elected representation took the matter to heart and got enough support do something about it.

So where do we go next? The city council can repeal the ordinance or let it go to a special election. An election will cost us taxpayers thousands of dollars. Repeal will take us back to square one and do nothing to solve the deer problem. And whether we want to admit it or not, we have a deer problem in Cape Girardeau.

I live and work in the city limits and recently on the drive home I counted 13. 13 deer in 10 minutes-folks, that's a problem. The deer population needs to be thinned. Not eradicated, but thinned. Relocation is too expensive. And while hunting opponents would like to see us work to limit deer and human contact, that horse is out of the barn. We have a problem and the most cost effective way to solve that problem is by hunting. Doing nothing is NOT a solution.

Mine is just one of many viewpoints. If you'd like to comment I want to hear from you. Click here to e-mail your response on-line right now, or write me at the address below. Either way, be sure to include your name and hometown in case we use your comment on the air.