Sharpshooters take aim: Tega Cay doubles number of deer to kill, will donate meat
Tega Cay has started hunting deer, and city officials have doubled the number of deer that sharpshooters can take in the next month.
The meat from 160 deer that could be killed in the next month or so will go to area food banks.
The city of around 13,000 people in northern York County along Lake Wylie has had concerns from residents for years over deer effects on traffic, pets, plants and animal waste.
The Tega Cay City Council voted Monday night to spend $94,000 for U.S. Department of Agriculture marksmen to cull 160 deer. The council had voted previously to harvest 80 deer. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources approved the city’s request to double the number last week.
Council member Carmen Miller and two other council members said Monday night the increased number is the fastest way to try to get a handle on the deer population short-term.
“There needs to be less numbers,” Miller said.
Hunting has started, runs into February
Hunting started Monday night on the city’s golf course, city officials said. Only contracted shooters will be involved. The ordinance does not allow for members of the public to hunt deer on the course during the culling.
The sharpshooters will use still hunting and night hunting that includes night lights and infrared light, city documents show, and will go into next month.
Deer that are killed will be taken to area meat processors, then the meat will go to food banks.
The city posted a public notice on its official Facebook page after the meeting, reiterating that hunters will work from tree stands on the golf course only, and not on private property. Hunters will use noise suppressors, officials said.
Signs were placed near golf course entrances. The golf course and course paths will be closed from dusk through midnight during the culling, and anyone on the course during those hours could be charged with trespassing.
Deer issue remains, even with sharpshooters
Tega Cay is a mainly residential city near Fort Mill between Rock Hill and Charlotte.
Council members said they still want to look at a long-term population control method that could include birth control.
Brian Carter, the lone council vote against raising the number of deer to be hunted to 160, had concerns about the rising cost. Carter said natural reproduction of deer would likely push the numbers back up again without a long-term strategy.
There were no public speakers for or against the doubling Monday night, although audience members applauded when Carter spoke about the deer situation and the need for a long-term solution.
