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Mayor Strommen stated she received a number of telephone complaints including bow deer <br />hunters that did not get permission from all the neighboring properties and that caused anxiety <br />about an injured deer coming onto their property. She asked if that can be addressed <br />administratively or would require an ordinance change. <br />Police Officer Webb stated the City does not require written permission from neighbors. He <br />stated it is a legitimate concern about a deer being injured during bow hunting because often <br />times the deer will run several hundred yards before dying. Police Officer Webb stated he has <br />received calls and negotiated between the hunter and property owner when a deer has run onto <br />another property and then died. He stated he has considered having a five -acre rule but it is at <br />the discretion of the Council. <br />Mayor Strommen stated there needs to be a balance to allow the activity while not impinging on <br />the property owner's enjoyment of their property. <br />Councilmember Kuzma asked if the distance is relaxed to 500 feet. <br />Police Chief Way stated the distance goes down to 500 feet if by permit, which is the State <br />Statute. He explained that if at 1,500 feet from any structure, there would be very few areas in <br />Ramsey where hunting could be permitted. He noted that ten years ago, Ramsey allowed <br />hunting in very few areas because it was based on 1,500 feet. Police Chief Way clarified that <br />with bow hunting, it is at 250 feet. <br />Councilmember Tossey stated he has experience with hunting and received some complaints <br />from people who hunt and do not want their neighbors to also hunt. <br />Kevin Jordan, Northfork resident across from Lake Itasca, stated he is representing the <br />neighborhood's concerns about waterfowl hunting on Lake Itasca. He stated many Northfork <br />residents are hunters and think that 500 feet from structures is a reasonable number in <br />consideration of State Statutes for rural areas. However, Northfork is too densely populated to <br />allow hunting within 500 feet. Mr. Jordan noted that about one -half of the Lake Itasca shoreline <br />is fully developed with residences. The nearest home on the northern edge (with access to 159 <br />Lane NW) is only 206 feet from the shoreline, which is very close if there is a duck boat with <br />hunters on the Lake. He stated homes are of varied distances, one being at 262 feet. Mr. Jordan <br />stated 20% of the Lake is bordered by the hiking /bike path that receives relatively heavy use and <br />is located 150 to 200 feet from the Lake. He stated the Supporting Arms and Manufacturers <br />Association indicates safe distances and for skeet shooting, it can travel over 1,800 feet. He <br />stated hunters do miss and make mistakes so while they support the existing ordinance, in <br />Northfork they support not issuing duck hunting permits in the future based on these facts alone. <br />Councilmember Kuzma stated support to go back to enforcing 1,500 feet and not issuing hunting <br />permits at 500 feet. <br />Councilmember Tossey stated that would eliminate hunting throughout Ramsey, which he finds <br />to be unreasonable when other areas do not have this concern. <br />City Council Work Session / February 25, 2014 <br />Page 7 of 10 <br />