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The Calvert County Commissioners have quickly reached a consensus on what organizations will have a place at the table when the issue of controlling the county’s white-tailed deer population is discussed, The board had the discussion Aug. 16 during their weekly meeting.

Forming a work group to discuss deer control arose out of concerns from citizens who have had crops consumed or damaged by foraging deer and motorists who have sustained injuries and had motor vehicles damaged by deer wandering into roadways.

“The goal of this work group is to make recommendations to the board on how to facilitate the reduction of the white-tailed deer population in Calvert County,” stated Department of General Services Director Wilson Freeland.

Calvert County Government staff recommended representatives from the Southern Maryland Bow Hunters Association, Calvert Farm Bureau, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Project and/or a Regional Wildlife biologist, DNR Forestry and/or Calvert Forestry Board, American Chestnut Land Trust, Calvert Sportsmen Club, a representative of any affected neighborhood and county staff members comprise the panel.

Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R] recommended the Calvert Humane Society also be invited to designate a work group member. Clark stated during the staff session prior to the business meeting that getting the perspective of an organization that advocates for the humane treatment of animals, he felt, was the right thing to do.

Commissioners’ President Susan Shaw [R] suggested a statewide organization comprised of retired law enforcement officers who deer-hunt and provide venison to the needy also be invited to send a representative.

During the staff session, Shaw mentioned that the issue of managing Calvert’s deer population has generated numerous e-mails from citizens.

After agreeing to the composition of the deer work group, Shaw remarked, “all those people writing us letters about the deer will be very pleased.”

“I sure hope the deer community isn’t trying to figure out a way to get rid of some of us,” Clark quipped.