SANDPOINT, Idaho — The northern Idaho city of Sandpoint has approved a request from airport officials to allow a deer hunt within city limits because some of the deer are wandering onto the runway and posing a hazard.
The Coeur d’Alene Press reported Tuesday that the measure is aimed at reducing deer populations near the Sandpoint Airport.
Airport officials needed the permission of the city to allow the firing of weapons within city limits.
“I hate to say we have to kill some deer,” Bonner County Commissioner Mike Nielsen said, but added that it’s a “whole lot better” than endangering human lives.
The hunt later this year will be conducted by experienced bow hunters filling their normal hunting tags during the regular hunting season, authorities said.
The large deer population is no longer afraid of airplanes, prompting some of them to roam on to the runway, Airport Manager Dave Schuck said.
Hunters will be screened and invited by airport administrators. Schuck said restricting the hunt to bows will reduce the risk of accidental injury or property damage.
The plan, Schuck said, is to eliminate residential deer that are used to airport activity. He said that will leave alone transitory deer, which are naturally fearful of aircraft.
Eventually a wildlife fence will be installed to keep animals out. But the fence is expensive, and the Federal Aviation Administration hasn’t approved funding until 2019.
Authorities said the hunt could be held every year until the fence is installed.
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