Deer Hunting Expansion Considered

A bill designed to curb the states growing deer population was heard by the Natural Resources committee Jan 27. LB836, introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, would permit landowners and their immediate families to hunt deer on their farmland without regard to season bag and possession limits. The state Game and Parks Commission also would establish biennial deer hunting season under the bill. The bill would permit the use of spotlights when hunting deer and establish a refundable tax credit of $25 per deer taken by other hunters on a landowners property. The tax credit would be offered to person who own at least 40 acres. Lautenbaugh said the swelling deer population is a threat to motorists' safety, adding that deer were the reported cause of 12,000 accidents last year. Lautenbugh said the bill's provisions are needed to help farmers protect their crops from damage caused by overabundant deer, "If you're involved in agricultural produciton, you have the right to defend your property. You have the right to defend you livelihood." he said. Robert Schoen of Beatrice testified in support of the bill. He said he lost his son to a motorcycle accident with a deer in 1996, at which point there were 250,000 deer in the state. Today, the state is estimated to 375,000 to 380,000 deer. he said. Schoen recommended that hunters be required to tag an antlerless deer first. Otherwise, he said they concentrate on trophy bucks and neglect the does, which contributes to the animals over population. Representing the Game and Parks Commission, Jeff Hoffman testified in opposition to the bill. He said the commission is working to limit the population of deer on a regional and land owner basis. Deer seasons and depredation permits are available, he said, adding that hunters are the best tool for deer population control. Hoffman said other states have adopted programs to encourage the targeting of does over bucks with mixed results. "The jury is still out on whether it is a good system or not," Hoffman said, saying some states later repealed their programs. Janice Spicha, representing the Nebraska Bowhunters Association, also testified in opposition. The deer population belongs to all Nebraskans, not just landowners, she said. The best way to control deer numbers is to increse hunters" access to land, she said. "Hunter access is very poor in this state, compared to other states," Spicha said, adding that hunter mentor programs struggle to find landowners who permit hunting. The committee took no immediate action on the bill.