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County tables airport deer-control permit application amid FAA and liability questions
Summary
Hutchinson County tabled a proposed application to Texas Parks and Wildlife that would allow deer-control measures at the county airport after discussion about FAA limits, liability, and who would be authorized to act. Commissioners asked airport staff to return with a written plan and identified fence-raising and professional hunters as possible alternatives.
Hutchinson County Commissioners on the agenda discussed an airport manager’s proposal to apply for a Texas Parks and Wildlife permit that would authorize professional hunters or other control measures to remove deer that have repeatedly entered the county airport’s fenced area.
Altuzar (S5), identified in the meeting as the airport manager, said deer getting on runways poses a safety hazard and that the county would like to file a permit application to allow authorized removal if other measures fail. He described previous deer incidents and said the permit process requires documentation, reporting to wildlife authorities, and that any meat from lawfully taken deer must be handled according to state rules.
Commissioners and staff raised safety and liability questions, particularly the FAA’s restrictions around shooting near runways and hangars. Multiple speakers recommended exploring non-lethal and infrastructure options—including raising the fence or using professional hunters who understand airport safety. "You can't just have anybody just shooting on the airport," one participant cautioned, stressing FAA and hangar/fuel-tank risks. Officials also noted the practical problem that a hunter may not be immediately available when a deer is on a runway.
Given unresolved questions about who would be authorized on the permit, response time and FAA constraints, Commissioner (S1) moved to table the application so staff can return with a written plan identifying qualified authorized people and any needed FAA coordination. The court voted to table the item pending additional information.
The discussion covered alternatives (fence upgrades, local professional hunters, explosive nets used in other contexts) and emphasized the need for written agreements and safety training before the county files the permit. No permit application was approved at the meeting.
