Warsaw’s efforts to reduce nuisance deer in the city limits is well underway again this year and, according to Jeff Grose, Warsaw Common Councilman and chairman of the Deer Task Force, so far 52 deer have been taken by trained hunters. That number is already ahead of last year’s total and this year’s program is slated to continue through the end of January.

This is the seventh year that the city has held a controlled deer hunt in areas identified as nuisance zones.

In September, the Warsaw Common Council voted unanimously to approve eight designated deer nuisance zones at the request of the Warsaw Deer Task Force. That number included two newly designated areas. Those areas are the Northeast Zone, which includes the Warsaw Municipal Airport, and the East Central Zone, which includes an area east of Eastlake Drive to west of CR 325 East.

In September, Grose presented the local program’s history and results, and said it has become a model for like programs throughout Indiana.

Grose added that for the reduction effort to be successful, the archers must dwindle the number of producing deer, or does, and that the results are becoming noticeable.

Safety is another big part of the deer reduction effort. Archers wanting to be part of the program must apply and then go through a training program held by the Warsaw Police Department and the Deer Task Force.

Archers must qualify at the training, then pass a background check.

From the start, Warsaw’s deer reduction program has put safety first. In the designated deer nuisance zones, archers are only permitted in wooded areas, must hunt from tree stands and must hunt at least 70 yards from homes. “Less than a 20-yard shot is also required,” Grose said, “and we’ve had very, very few problems.”

Grose added, “Indiana was concerned in the beginning, but now they look at Warsaw’s program as a guide for how to do this right. I appreciate the efforts of (former Warsaw Mayor) Ernie Wiggins, the past councils and our police department.”

Another benefit of the program is that many of the archers donate the deer and the processing of the meat to local charities and families in need. Said Grose, “Twenty of the 50 deer taken last year were donated and this costs nothing for the city. The archers pay for the (tags) and the processing. We’re fortunate.”

This year’s deer reduction effort is scheduled to begin Sept. 15 and run through Jan. 31, 2013. All qualifying archers who receive their notification in the next week, will be required to go to the Warsaw Police Department and register for hunting dates, times and locations.

Also, property owners in the designated deer nuisance zones can apply to have city qualified archers hunt their property. Those applications will be reviewed by the Deer Task Force to assure the properties meet all qualifications for the city’s guidelines.

Archers interested in applying for the fall 2013 controlled hunt should note that registration dates will be held in July 2013.