Individuals interested in taking part in this year’s City of Bridgeport urban deer hunt met Saturday evening at City Hall to make application.

 

At this point, about 20 individuals will attempt to harvest deer in the hunt which begins Sept. 9 within Bridgeport city limits.

 

Of the 20, a handful of the hunters have participated in the past and the remainder are new to the hunt, said Bridgeport Police Sgt. Scott Carpenter.

 

In addition to two city tracts – one located above Platinum Drive, across from the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the other between Lodgeville Road and Bridgeport City Park – privately-owned properties are being approved for the hunt, Carpenter said.

 

As the number of harvested deer has dwindled in recent years, Carpenter – who just this year took over organization of the hunt – said the city is hoping for additional hunters and property owners to get on board.

 

“It has to be two continuous acres and that makes it hard getting tracts, especially in problem areas, but we’re always looking for someone who wants to give us property to hunt on,” he said.

Property owners who have two acres or more within city limits and want to offer that property for the urban deer hunt can stop at Bridgeport Municipal Building between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up an application. Once completed and returned, the applications are reviewed by Bridgeport Police Department.

 

“We’ll go out and look at the property, make sure it is within city limits and Chief (John) Walker will decide if it should be included,” Carpenter said.

 

The deadline for making application is Aug. 31.

 

Those interested in hunting must attend one of the remaining three meetings, scheduled for 6-7 p.m. today, Aug. 15; 8-9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. and 6-7 p.m. Aug. 31. During that time, a proficiency test will be adminstered. Urban hunters must be West Virginia residents of at least 18 years of age and must have a state hunting license. 

 

This year's hunt runs through Dec. 31. For the past couple of years, around 100 hunting permits were issued  and about 50 deer harvested.