Walker commissioners discuss joining county deer-management pilot, schedule follow-up

The Walker City Commission discussed joining a county pilot program to address a persistent deer problem that city officials say contributes to vehicle-deer crashes and resident complaints.

During the Committee of the Whole meeting Nov. 24, the mayor and commissioners reviewed the final county deer-management study and considered options ranging from further study to an expedited pilot that could include USDA-managed removal, use of Act 51 roadway-safety funds for mitigation measures, and local ordinance adjustments to allow or regulate harvest. The mayor indicated a test-pilot role was the intent and emphasized a sense of urgency from residents.

Commissioner Gilbert urged the city to move quickly: "The sooner we can get rolling on this, the better," he said, noting residents have complained for years. Commissioners discussed safety issues tied to car-deer crashes, potential insurance and road-commission involvement, and whether communities would need to permit on private property or adjust discharge rules for firearms or bow hunting under controlled conditions.

The commission did not adopt a formal ordinance but directed staff to schedule a tighter working meeting with the police chief, city manager, and County Road Commission — planned for December — to align operational details and costs before deciding on a pilot. The mayor cautioned there would likely be costs and that specific steps would return to the commission for direction.

What’s next: City staff will convene the planned meeting with public-safety and county representatives and report back with recommended next steps and any cost estimates or ordinance changes needed for pilot participation.