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Dallas committee asks state for details after rejecting lethal deer removal option
Summary
City staff explained a 2017 state pilot that would let a city petition for permits to remove nuisance deer; after safety and liability concerns, members said they would seek a state study and declined to pursue lethal removal at this time.
Staff briefed the Buildings & Grounds Committee on a 2017 state pilot that allows a city to petition the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to determine whether nuisance‑deer permits should be issued. Staff noted that no Oregon city has used the pilot and that the state would conduct surveys and determine whether a nuisance population exists and how many animals could be removed under permits.
Committee members, staff and a member of the public raised safety and liability concerns about lethal removal or using firearms in populated areas. Staff said harvested deer must be processed and the meat donated to a food bank, which adds financial and logistical costs. A participant asked whether hazing permits or less‑lethal options could be used; staff said hazing for deer is not covered by a permit program in Oregon and suggested providing residents guidance on deterrents (fencing, netting) and contacting ODFW for available alternatives.
The chair took a quick straw poll and reported no support for moving forward with lethal removal via the pilot: “So this policy is dead at this point because the liability and for other reasons that all the other cities in the state have said the same thing is not a viable solution.” Staff agreed to contact ODFW to learn whether the city can request a population study without committing to removal and to report back at a future meeting.
