Truro to implement second controlled deer hunt

The Truro Deer Management Working Group is planning a second controlled managed hunt.

As of press time, planning was underway, with the hunt expected to take place later this month.

The first Controlled Managed Hunt took place in January/February of this year and 14 deer were harvested.

The second hunt will build on best practices developed throughout the first year of the program, which was developed as a pilot year to ensure the hunt could be carried out successfully, with strict control measures and public safety priorities. The town will expand the hunt program to include additional sites and hunters. Twenty deer will be permitted for harvest in the initial stage, with the opportunity to renew the permit depending on timing and after an evaluation of the initial stage.

“Council and I are very happy with the results,” of the first year, said Truro Mayor Bill Mills in a news release.

“When planning for the second year, we’ve been able to strengthen our partnerships with the province, Millbrook First Nation, Feed Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University.”

The working group will again partner with Feed

Nova Scotia to have all meat harvested through the program donated to food banks throughout Nova Scotia.

“There’s nothing more

Nova Scotian than helping your neighbour when times are tough and the controlled managed hunt in Truro has certainly done that,” said Karen Theriault, director of development and communications at Feed Nova Scotia.

“The deer meat that Feed Nova Scotia received through this program (in the first year) represented 1,890 servings of protein. That means critical nourishment for thousands of Nova Scotians who count on us and our network of food banks for support.”

All hides are donated to Millbrook First Nation. Other parts of the animal are used for provincial and national research purposes.

The town has expanded its partnership with Millbrook First Nation. Millbrook will be managing one of the hunt sites and conducting landbased learning at this site for community youth and other members to help preserve knowledge related to the ethical harvesting and processing of deer. Programs will focus on demonstrating how to apply a field dressing, properly remove a deer and tan a deer hide. Several experienced harvesters from the community will mentor others.

The purpose of the town’s deer management strategy is to reduce the deer population numbers within the Town of Truro for the benefit of natural ecosystems, citizen landscapes, reducing deer-vehicle collisions, public health concerns, the possible presence of deer predators, and an overall reduction of deer human conflict.

To help the strategy, people are encouraged to stop feeding deer within and around the town.

“We encourage all Nova Scotians to keep wildlife wild by not leaving food outside and eliminating other attractants. Feeding entices wildlife into populated areas and poses risks to both humans and wild animals,” said Glen Parsons, manager of sustainable wildlife use, Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

The deer management strategy was approved by town council in September 2021. A copy is available on the town’s website. While individuals are encouraged to focus on measures on their own individual properties, the town will focus on public education and population reduction measures with oversight and guidance from Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.