Politics & Government

Solon Deer Preservation Act Defeated

Solon will be able to hunt deer to decrease the population after a law proposing to ban deer killing failed on Election Day.

Solon will be able to hunt deer to reduce the population after voters rejected a proposed ordinance to ban deer hunting.

Issue 94, the Solon Deer Preservation Act, was defeated 4,984 to 3,040, with 62 percent voting against a law that would make it a crime to intentionally kill a deer in Solon, according to unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

The act was a resident-led initiative to in the city. The ordinance was placed on the ballot after a petition effort by hunting opponents.

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The law directly conflicts with Solon's . Solon officials have argued that Solon's deer population needs to be reduced in order to prevent deer-caused car accidents and that a law against hunting will tie the cities hands and leave official unable to deal with the problem, and now it can be.

Supporters of the anti-hunting law believe there are viable non-lethal options out there that city officials have neglected to explore. They argue that hunting in Solon city limits is not the answer.

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Deer management has long been a in Solon. The issue resurfaced in late 2010 when Solon officials explored creating a small crossbow hunting program to see how it would help manage the deer population.

The crossbow program but Solon officials have been working all year on a that includes both lethal and nonlethal options for handling deer. The lethal options include a crossbow hunting program and sharpshooting efforts.

The plan was , but council members promised not to begin any culling efforts until after Tuesday's vote.

But the city has moved forward as if the anti-hunting law would fail at the polls because officials say they to cull during this hunting season.

The city with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to manage the deer program. City officials have said getting out of the contract will not be a problem if the anti-hunting law is approved by voters.


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