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Kannapolis to allow limited bow hunting in city limits

By Ben McNeely | Media General

Published: February 24, 2009

KANNAPOLIS — The city has gone to the deer.
City Council approved a measure to allow limited bow hunting within the city limits to keep the deer population down. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission enacted Urban Archery Season in 2008 in response to growing concerns from North Carolina cities and towns about overgrown deer population.
Police Chief Woody Chavis said the need for this in Kannapolis is clear: In 2008, Kannapolis Police responded to 32 car crashes involving deer and they had to kill or clear out at least 40 dead deer off the roads.
"More cities are joining the program because of the overabundance of deer," Chavis said.
But council member Ken Geathers said he would be nervous that someone is shooting arrows in his neighborhood.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission regulates the hunting privilege and establishes parameters in which urban bow hunting can take place:
• A hunter must be on his his or her own property;
• The property must be at 10 acres;
• The hunter must shoot from an elevated platform at least 10 feet off the ground;
• The hunter must be 500 feet from any building or property before shooting, and;
• Urban archery season is in effect.
This year's season was open from Jan. 10 to Feb. 14.
Geathers also asked about the possibility of hunters leaving dead carcasses and remains after they clean the deer.
"Many hunters, including myself, harvest deer for food," Chavis said, "and they don't waste anything. These guys would be doing us a service."
Kannapolis Police would enforce the ordinance.
Elkin and Washington were the first two cities in 2008 to host urban archery season. This year, eight municipalities, including Locust and Midland, joined Elkin and Washington in participating in the program.
The city will send a letter of intent to join the program by April 1. If the wildlife commission accepts the letter, Kannapolis will join the program in 2010.
• Contact reporter Ben McNeely: 704-789-9131
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