Why does it seem that deer are so comfortable in our backyards? A big part of the reason is the recent construction boom. Since 2020, more than 100 homes have been built in The Landings and Grand Harbor has been developed, taking away 50+ acres of natural habitat for feeding, bedding, and breeding.
The Association knows this is a problem, and we’re taking action. But it’s important to recognize that the citizens of Georgia own the State’s deer population and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for managing and protecting them. DNR’s goal is to maintain a healthy herd, which they define as an average of 15 deer per square mile. To help achieve this, we’re authorized to hire a USDA-approved hunter to thin the herd.
Our deer management plan has two main goals: to reduce the overall deer population to the allowable level and to reduce damage to residential property.
Historically, we’ve had one USDA-approved hunter on contract for ¾ time, but he can only be in one place at a time, needs permission to hunt on residential properties, and must be extremely careful when removing an animal with a rifle in a very urban and flat environment like The Landings. Other detriments have included the inability to conduct work on The Landings Golf & Athletic Club property and the fact that some residents feed the deer, which attracts them to our yards.
Here’s how we’re addressing those challenges:
- We’ve hired another part-time USDA employee to assist with collections.
- We will continue to be extremely cautious when it comes to resident safety
- We’ve asked for and received permission from the Club to work on their land.
- We have started fining residents for feeding the deer – no warning, an immediate fine.
Keeping deer out of our yards isn’t easy. Fencing our 20+ miles of perimeter would cost millions of dollars so we’re exploring other solutions, like putting up fences in smaller sections where deer tend to enter our neighborhoods. Additionally, we are directing the deer toward areas where our hunters can more easily remove them or where their foraging does not intrude on resident property.
We also are experimenting with a USDA-approved deer repellent, and the results have been promising.
These plans are aimed at achieving a noticeable drop in the number of deer treating our yards like a smorgasbord. It will work only if our residents cooperate and those who believe they are being kind, stop feeding the deer. Corn basically provides carbohydrates for deer and may take up to a month for the correct enzymes in the digestive tract to build up and utilize the benefits of a hard grain like corn. Deer are browsers and must eat a variety of flora during the day. If you attract them to an area with corn they are going to also eat the landscaping in that area. Excess grain also has been shown to cause foot deformities which ultimately kill the deer. Finally, and most importantly, feeding the deer is prohibited by our Rules and Regulations with violators liable for a $150 fine.
