TEGA CAY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Tega Cay leaders’ solution to cull the deer has worked so far: killing 80 and sterilizing 200. However, some officials believe the project should go on for a little longer to make sure the deer overpopulation is fixed.
They voted Tuesday night 3-2 to continue working on the issue.
One frequent deer hunter in the area says there may be a better solution to the problem than another round of culling.
MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS
Tega Cay’s deer problem
“What they’re doing, the way I feel, is they’re not solving the issue,” said Joe Lunato.
City leaders decided to spend another $35,000 to kill 80 more deer to bring their total to 160 deer killed and 200 deer sterilized.
Lunato doesn’t think that will solve the problem.
“They’re still going to have the deer there,” Lunato said. “Deer herd in the winter. They’ll have more deer coming back. Okay, bucks come in other territory.”
Tuesday’s decision could bring the city’s total spending on wildlife management to $340,000. Mayor Chris Gray and council member Brian Carter opposed the additional expenses.
“I myself am under the opinion that we have spent enough money on the deer this year,” Gray said.
“I do understand that there are some people that still have an issue with the deer in their area of Tega Cay. And for those residents, I do want to say I’m sorry and it’s rough for this year,” Carter explained. “We’ve already culled 80 deer. There have been 200 deer that have already been sterilized that are going to be no fawns that are going to be born next year. That’s a lot of deer that have been either taken out or have been touched. That’s essentially half of the population of the deer. I think next year it’s going to be much better.”
Lunato says he watched Tuesday night’s meeting and was frustrated with the solutions and vote. He’s an avid hunter and doesn’t want to see more deer killed or sterilized despite neighbors’ claims of possible traffic issues and eating their gardens.
He believes it would cost the same amount of money to have the deer relocated to a better area with fewer people.
“Sumpter Forest, thousands of acres, thousands of acres all over the place,” he said. “The WMO wildlife management. All right? They can take these deer. It’s not a far drive. Put them in a truck and just relocate them, right? You’re talking about money. I’m talking about saving. It’s not right to me, it’s not right. It’s just like telling you, you can’t have a baby anymore. What right do you have to do that?”
Scott Shirley says the deer sterilization was a long-term solution, and the city won’t see changes for another five to seven years, but the $35,000 and killing 80 more deer provides action in the short term.
