Parks commission declines to recommend bow hunting in Munwoods and McCarthy Lee Park

The Parks and Recreation Commission on Sept. 18 voted to recommend that the city council not approve bow hunting in the five‑acre area of Munwoods that staff had proposed for an urban deer hunt. The commission’s motion to recommend against approving hunting in that area passed with one member opposed.

The decision followed a staff presentation of a large public survey, maps showing proximity of trails, roads and residences to potential tree‑stand locations, and six years of permit and harvest data. Parks staff reported the city can issue about 75 permits annually under the ordinance but that permits issued over the last six years averaged just under 19 and deer harvested averaged about 17 per year. They also described setback and safety rules: elevated stands a minimum of 8 feet off the ground, shots limited to about 75 feet, stands…