HVL Bow Hunters Struggling To Reduce Herd

(Hidden Valley, Ind.) - An effort to thin the rampant deer herd in the Hidden Valley community is barely making a dent in the population, but it’s aggravating some residents.

Bow hunters have been permitted to take deer in specially designated wooded areas of the densely populated community during HVL’s third annual deer cull. This year’s cull ran December 3 through 21.

“Hunting has always gone on in the properties surrounding HVL and we had simply become a safe haven for them because we had never attempted to cull the herd until 2010,” Hidden Valley Property Manager Bruce Keller told Eagle 99.3.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources estimated in late fall there were about 260 deer living in the 2.45 square miles making up the subdivision. The herd size is about five times larger than the DNR’s recommendation of 20 deer per square mile, or about 50 in HVL’s case.

The targeted number of deer during the 2011-12 cull season is between 125 and 150. Only 31 deer were taken through the cull’s first phase, according to Keller.

The hunt is badly in need of an extension, said Keller.

“We are perusing a special permit from the DNR at this time to carry out the second phase of the cull,” he said.

Some HVL residents may not be pleased with the possible extension. Residents have attended Property Owners Association meetings to voice their frustration with wounded deer being left to die and the dangers posed by the stray arrows from the bow hunters.

HVL requires bow hunters to meet certain criteria to participate in the hunt: they must pass an archery proficiency test, they must wear a special tag, stay within the designated culling zones, and must notify the Hidden Valley deputies if a wounded or killed deer is located on unapproved private property. Hunters were also required to attend an orientation meeting prior to the start of the deer hunt.

The full deer cull rules and regulations can be found on the Hidden Valley POA website, http://www.hiddenvalleylakepoa.com/PDF/Deer%20Info.pdf (PDF).

Keller said there has been only one minor issue in this year’s hunt and no DNR hunting rules have been violated. Hunters who violate the rules face a fine of up to $1,000 from the Hidden Valley Property Owners Association.

“We have tweaked (the culling) every year and will continue to do so to improve safety and efficiency,” said Keller.

Last year, Hidden Valley’s deer cull drew the attention of national animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA issued an “action alert” to its members calling the HVL bow hunt among the cruelest forms of hunting. The organization was told that a doe suffered after being struck but not killed by a hunter’s arrow.

Eagle 99.3 sought comment from organizers of the “Hidden Valley Deer” Facebook group which has been critical of the deer hunt. A person responded that Eagle 99.3’s e-mail would be forwarded to the person in charge, however, no further e-mail or phone call was returned.