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Commission debates moving forward with deer-management plan amid reports of lost deer
Summary
The commission heard conflicting views on whether to proceed with a draft wildlife management plan now or wait for a new task-force member to break a deadlock; task-force chair Kurt Wyantre and other speakers emphasized the need for another deer count and stronger enforcement of no-feeding rules.
Kurt Wyantre, chairman of the Urban Wildlife Committee, told the Anaconda Deer Lodge County Commission that calls about dead deer have continued and urged the commission not to adopt a management plan until the task force can fill a vacant seat and complete its work.
"I originally was coming here today to discuss going forward with that wildlife management plan," Wyantre said, adding that the task force "will be responsible for determining a wildlife management plan if necessary" and should have a full membership before making that determination.
Commissioners were divided on whether to wait. One commissioner said a draft plan — prepared with input from a member of Fish, Wildlife and Parks — is a useful place to start and warned that delaying further would push review past the seasonal window when plans can be implemented. "We need to make a decision to move forward with it and get it done," the commissioner said.
Others urged caution. A different commissioner and several task-force members said the ordinance assigns the decision about whether a plan is necessary to the task force and that adding the missing member could resolve a current 4–4 split. Bill Salazar, chief of police and a task-force member, said the incoming member should be briefed and allowed to vote: "Whatever the majority decides, I will back."
Speakers also flagged enforcement and public-education steps. Staff reported signs prohibiting feeding are being posted at congregating park sites and that enforcement will be more aggressive now that winter conditions have eased. Commissioners noted that Fish, Wildlife and Parks must still review and approve any final plan, and that the commission can set a deadline for the task force to return a recommendation at a later regular meeting.
The commission did not take a formal vote during the work session but directed staff and commissioners to place follow-up items on future agendas, including adding the incoming task-force member and setting a date for the task force to present its recommendation.
