There’s a “Dorothy” quality … and smile … to this petite, brunette from south Kansas City.
And as far as Leah Jones is concerned, there is no place like home.
While most of us have to trek miles to stalk our big bucks, Jones need not go any farther than her own backyard in the urban perimeter.
“I basically shot it in my back yard,” she said of the big-bodied eight-point she took with a bow last fall just off of Raytown Road.
Yes, inside the boundaries of one of Missouri’s largest cities.
Actually, Jones is among a growing number of local bow hunters taking advantage of both an urban deer management program and at the same time helping make our city streets and highways safer by reducing the car/deer collisions.
The Missouri Department of Transportation reported that between June of 2007 and July of this year, there were 705 such accidents. And officials believe there were at least twice that many that went unreported.
“The private land urban hunting program is relatively popular and the only legal way to hunt in a Kansas City ZIP code,” said Joe DeBold, an urban wildlife biologist who administers the plan for the Missouri Department of Conservation in our area.
The program started in 2004 and its success can be measured in equal parts: more hunters, fewer deer. Landowners with five acres or more with a Kansas City address can apply for the permit. Then if they meet certain other criteria of habitat and safety they can then bow hunt that property.
The goal is simple.
“The purpose is to manage the urban deer herd, and in the process, reduce deer/car collisions,” DeBold continued. “We really encourage people with high density deer populations on their land to take part. And, of course, we want them to let the adjoining property owners know what they’re doing and even to encourage them to participate as well.”
The MDC program has worked so well that even other large cities that have similar deer densities are calling Joe for his formula.
“The word has gotten out,” DeBold said. “I’ve had a lot of cities calling to see how we do it, which is a tribute to the (Conservation) Department – places like Cincinnati.”
The MDC has a multi-layered plan to help control urban deer. In addition to the private-land option, urban hunters can also sign up for a myriad of area managed hunts at such places as Burr Oak Woods in Blue Springs, the James A. Reed Wildlife Conservation Area in Lee’s Summit and the Longview Lake area at the confluence of Kansas City, Lee’s Summit and Grandview.
Additionally, managed hunts are also taking place in Kansas City at Tiffany Springs Park, Hodge Park and at Riverfront Park.
And although all of the 2008 opportunities have now been reserved, the various programs will be continued into the future.
For more information contact Joe DeBold at 816-759-7305, extension 2230 or by email, joe.debold@mdc.mo.gov.
In the meantime, take it from Dorothy and Leah Jones: There’s no place like home. For deer hunting.
“I’m just a 4-foot-9, 99-pound girl who came out of the womb in panty hose and high heels,” she hoots, “I’m was the last one in the world some one would peg at a deer hunter … and I did it!
“And I’ve got the fever now and I can’t get rid of it.”
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There’s a “Dorothy” quality … and smile … to this petite, brunette from south Kansas City.
And as far as Leah Jones is concerned, there is no place like home.
While most of us have to trek miles to stalk our big bucks, Jones need not go any farther than her own backyard in the urban perimeter.
“I basically shot it in my back yard,” she said of the big-bodied eight-point she took with a bow last fall just off of Raytown Road.
Yes, inside the boundaries of one of Missouri’s largest cities.
Actually, Jones is among a growing number of local bow hunters taking advantage of both an urban deer management program and at the same time helping make our city streets and highways safer by reducing the car/deer collisions.
The Missouri Department of Transportation reported that between June of 2007 and July of this year, there were 705 such accidents. And officials believe there were at least twice that many that went unreported.
“The private land urban hunting program is relatively popular and the only legal way to hunt in a Kansas City ZIP code,” said Joe DeBold, an urban wildlife biologist who administers the plan for the Missouri Department of Conservation in our area.
The program started in 2004 and its success can be measured in equal parts: more hunters, fewer deer. Landowners with five acres or more with a Kansas City address can apply for the permit. Then if they meet certain other criteria of habitat and safety they can then bow hunt that property.
The goal is simple.
“The purpose is to manage the urban deer herd, and in the process, reduce deer/car collisions,” DeBold continued. “We really encourage people with high density deer populations on their land to take part. And, of course, we want them to let the adjoining property owners know what they’re doing and even to encourage them to participate as well.”
The MDC program has worked so well that even other large cities that have similar deer densities are calling Joe for his formula.
“The word has gotten out,” DeBold said. “I’ve had a lot of cities calling to see how we do it, which is a tribute to the (Conservation) Department – places like Cincinnati.”
The MDC has a multi-layered plan to help control urban deer. In addition to the private-land option, urban hunters can also sign up for a myriad of area managed hunts at such places as Burr Oak Woods in Blue Springs, the James A. Reed Wildlife Conservation Area in Lee’s Summit and the Longview Lake area at the confluence of Kansas City, Lee’s Summit and Grandview.
Additionally, managed hunts are also taking place in Kansas City at Tiffany Springs Park, Hodge Park and at Riverfront Park.
And although all of the 2008 opportunities have now been reserved, the various programs will be continued into the future.
For more information contact Joe DeBold at 816-759-7305, extension 2230 or by email, joe.debold@mdc.mo.gov.
In the meantime, take it from Dorothy and Leah Jones: There’s no place like home. For deer hunting.
“I’m just a 4-foot-9, 99-pound girl who came out of the womb in panty hose and high heels,” she hoots, “I’m was the last one in the world some one would peg at a deer hunter … and I did it!
“And I’ve got the fever now and I can’t get rid of it.”
