PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION

Our Dear Deer

By Claudia Haydon

In our continuing series of informative articles concerning the various functions of the Horseshoe Bay Property Owners’ Association, the following is an explanation of how our POA works to control the deer population.

Over five years ago, the over-population of deer was recognized as a very serious problem. In 2002 there were over 400 deer killed by automobiles on FM 2147. We began working with the Parks and Wildlife Department of the State of Texas seeking solutions. Through a census, they determined that we had over 2,000 deer in the area. That was about three times the optimum number (700) for the square miles in our community.

The first thing we had to do before the Parks and Wildlife Department would allow us to address the problem was to build fences along our borders. We started a good faith effort to build fences on those borders which would have the most effect on controlling the population. Following the construction of the fences, the Parks and Wildlife Department gave their approval for us to begin a trapping program.

Each year it is necessary for us to take a deer census. Based on this census, we are told how many deer we are allowed to trap in a given year. To insure that the deer are not carrying diseases, sample brain stems are sent to Texas A&M to be tested. Once it is determined that our deer are healthy, permits are written by Parks and Wildlife so that we can proceed.

Of critical importance in this entire process is determining where the deer can be relocated. We have been fortunate in the past few years to have ranchers who needed to populate their ranches and were willing to pay a large percentage of the costs for trapping and shipping. Another alternative is to trap the deer and have them processed for distribution to various charitable organizations. This is very expensive since we have to defray all of the costs of trapping and processing.

The trapping takes place in the months of February and March. Presently, there are nets in five locations in Horseshoe Bay West. Within the next week, those nets will be moved to other locations in Horseshoe Bay. Please be reminded that it is against state law to interfere with the trapping process.

Deer population control will always be with us. If we ignored the problem and let the deer continue to multiply, our deer would be smaller and become sickly from malnourishment. Experts tell us unequivocally that the deer should not be fed. It is a danger to them as well as our residents. The City of Horseshoe Bay has passed an ordinance making it illegal to do so.

Everyone recognizes that the deer are an integral part of the charm of the Hill Country. The Horseshoe Bay Property Owners’ Association is working to insure that we control the number of deer for the safety and enjoyment of all.

Return to All About the POA

Return to Home Page