Posted: 4/5/05
Special hunt for state park withdrawn
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
A bill calling for a special deer hunt in Beaver Creek Valley State Park has been withdrawn.
District 31B state representative Greg Davids told The Argus that he had introduced the bill after getting complaints on the large number of deer in the park.
The bill was to be heard at the committee level on April 5, as was another bill that would have extended the beginning and ending camping seasons at the park,
Davids said he is pulling both bills. ìI think weíre in good shape,î he said, referring to both the camping and hunting issues.
Beaver Creek State Park manager Roger Heimgartner said he did not want to comment on the bill and deferred all questions to regional state park manager Steve Kirch
Kirch, who oversees 25 state parks, also said he couldnít comment on the bill. State parks follow guidelines that were put together in 1999 that provide an overview on whether to do a hunt, he said.
ìWe look at all state parks with that in mind.î The DNR commissioner has the authority to issue state park hunts. DNR workers have determined that a hunt isnít necessary at Beaver Creek, based on things like how much deer are eating, pellet (feces) counts, and road kills.
ìWe want to look at those on a regular basis,î Kirch said.
Kirch added that DNR wildlife worker Don Ramsden will be doing public input meetings and goal settings on need for deer management needs in the area, probably this month.
The most recent hunt at Beaver Creek was in 2001, when 14 deer were harvested out of 21 permits issued. Previous to that year, Beaver Creek had been hunted 9 out of 10 years. Harvest numbers are sliding at the park, Kirch said.
Hunters who are selected f`or a state park hunt are given a brief orientation, because there are special safety issues with the other park visitors.
The other bill that concerned Beaver Creek this year was tied to camping in the spring for turkey hunting and early season trout fishing. The bill isnít necessary because the park will be opened for rustic hunting. In past, the park has fluctuated on spring camping, but they decided to open with rustic camping this year.
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