Left, a doe is seen off County Highway HH near The Windsor Centre. (City-Times photo)

City-Times Staff

The Stevens Point Deer Management Committee has a few extra bucks this year- at least in its checkbook.

The committee was formed several years ago to oversee controlling the local deer population and pays select hunters a fee for each deer killed. The meat and hide are processed free of charge by local businesses.

“Several years ago we had a $3,000 budget, and last year we were reduced down to $500,” said Alderman Roger Trzebiatowski, who sits on the committee. Trzebiatowski said businesses like Sentry Insurance have helped pick up some of the funding, but the deer herd has grown and now the city should replace at least some of the funding.

“I’d like to see that funding replaced by the city- once we start a program we should follow through,” he said, adding committee spent nearly $2,000 this year after culling 28 deer.

“With the weather and other situations of the past few years we didn’t have the deer we were accustomed to,” Trzebiatowski said. “This year, with Sentry golf course being closed, we’re seeing a lot more deer. Because of insurance costs and deductible costs, deer crashes aren’t being reported as often.”

Trzebiatowski proposed increasing the deer management committee budget to $1500 for the 2014 budget, a measure that was agreed to by all City Council Members except Michael O’Meara and Joanne Suomi.