Mt. Lebanon sharpshooting ends early

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The sharpshooters of Mt. Lebanon stopped at 55 deer when spring-like weather made baiting stations ineffective.

The rifle cull on select private and public land was licensed by the state Game Commission to run through March 31, but the shooting stopped after just seven days, Feb. 16-22, when commissioners and animal control contractor White Buffalo agreed that diminished sightings warranted an early end.

Municipal spokeswoman Susan Morgans said ending the cull early “was the fiscally responsible decision.”

The controlled archery phase ended with the closing of the hunting season Jan. 28 with 16 deer killed on public land and 17 taken on private properties, a lower number than expected.

In all, the 2016-17 controlled archery hunt and sharpshooting cull removed 91 deer. The 2015-16 program took 115.

Mt. Lebanon commissioners agreed to pay $9,000 for White Buffalo’s coordination of the controlled archery hunt. According to a commission statement, the municipality will pay only for time and materials used in the abbreviated sharpshooting phase, which was originally contracted at $83,477 for up to 100 deer.

One resident at Monday’s commission meeting questioned varying estimates of the deer population.

“Will you consider an aerial survey before you expend more public funds?” asked resident Barbara Sollenberger.

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch said she would introduce such a measure, though it’s unclear whether it would pass. A majority of the board has so far supported the culling efforts while Ms. Fraasch has opposed them.