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by George Jared

Cherokee Village will have a deer hunt within city limits this fall, but don’t look for a similar hunting opportunity in other Northeast Arkansas towns and cities.

The vast fields of crops that dominate the landscape in NEA keep deer populations down and prevent them from congregating in large numbers, which might pose a danger to the public, said Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Deer Program Coordinator Brad Miller.

“There are some pockets of high deer density in the Delta Region and through parts of Northeast Arkansas,” Miller said. “But because of the agrarian culture of the area and limited habitat (woodlands or forests), there isn’t as much human-deer conflict.”

Cherokee Village, in the Ozark Mountains, has a serious deer problem, Cherokee Village Mayor Lloyd Hefley said.

“We’re inundated with deer,” he said. “It’s a real safety hazard for our citizens. And it’s not good for the deer herds.”

Hefley said with such a high number of animals, diseases can become more common and are spread more easily. The city’s deer hunt will be held this fall, and to participate, hunters are required to pay a fee, attend a class and show a proficiency at shooting an animal in the heart or lungs from 20 yards.

Longbows, recurve bows or compound bows are the only weapons allowed. Applications for the hunt must be turned into the AGFC before July 31.

Voters approved the deer hunt in the Sharp County town of about 4,500 by a 3-1 margin, Hefley said.

NEA motorists were plagued last year with an unusually high number of deer venturing near roadways to find food. An April freeze in 2007 affected the fall acorn crop, and it caused herds to move more than usual to find food, Miller said.

This year the acorn crop should be fine, and the AGFC doesn’t expect higher kill numbers for deer, as happened last year, Miller said.

Although deer pose a threat to motorists, human fatalities are rare, Miller said. While many of the estimated 5,000 motorist-deer collisions in Arkansas each year result in some property damage, only 0.7 of these incidents involve injury to the driver or passengers, according to a report released by the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

No matter what the statistics indicate, Miller said motorists should always be wary. “If you live in a rural area, there are critters all around you,” Miller said. “It’s a good idea to watch out for them when you drive.”

gjared@jonesborosun.com