Monticello’s deer population to be culled

The deer population in Monticello will decrease in coming weeks. On September 10, the Monticello City Council asked the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) to cull the population of deer in city limits.
DWR officials will begin the process in coming weeks. It is anticipated that they will harvest up to 50 deer. City residents can purchase a dressed deer for $20 at the Four Corners Meat Processing Plant in Monticello. The plant will process the meat for an additional charge.
Regional DWR Wildlife Manager Justin Shannon explained that removing deer is a huge issue of public safety. The Wildlife Board has drafted a new program for urban deer control which will be administered experimentally in designated areas of Utah. Shannon suggested the City wait to join the Urban Deer Control program until it has been tried in Highland, UT.
If the City joins the program, it will help create rules and guidelines for the removal of deer. It will also allow the City to designate individuals to perform the removal rather than wait for the DWR.
Councilman Tim Young said the City is looking for a long-term solution rather than a year-to-year solution. Wallace said the Urban Deer Control program should be a long-term solution.
City residents Paul and Carolee Curtis conducted a survey of more than 200 city residents to ask their opinions about the deer. The survey shows that approximately 60 percent of respondents want to limit the deer population, 20 percent are ok with the current population, and 20 percent have no opinion.
There is strong sentiment against the deer on the west side of town and along Highway 191 on the north end of town. The survey found that the deer have caused thousands of dollars of damage to private property.
In other matters at the September 10 Council meeting, the Council approved the renaming of Pioneer Park to Pioneer Rotary Park.
The Rotary Club was asked by the former owner of Pioneer Park to adopt the park. The Rotary Club then brought the park to the City because they could not afford to take it over. It will remain a city park, but the Rotary Club will perform enhancement projects and cooperate with city administration and the Parks and Beautification Committee.
Mayor Doug Allen said his vision is for a city-maintained and owned park, with the Rotary Club working as an asset to the park to complete projects and upgrades.
Councilman Brad Randall said there is some public perception that the Rotary group simply wants the benefits of the park without the liability.
Mayor Allen said that is a misperception, and added that the Rotary Club is only trying to perform service for the community.

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