The Hamilton Conservation Authority is assembling an advisory committee to make recommendations to resolve a controversial deer hunting debate at the Iroquoia Heights Conservation Area.
Steve Miazga, the authority's chief administrative officer, said the group could start monthly meetings as early as April, and will make proposals to the authority's board of directors on managing deer population at the urban conservation area.
"We're seeking full and complete transparency on the issue of deer in the Iroquoia Heights Conservation Area," he said.
"We're looking at any and all options with respect to the management of deer population. This ranges from status quo right through to a cull."
In January of 2009, an aerial census found 102 deer in the area where there should be 12 or fewer.
Last November, the urban conservation area was closed for almost two weeks after the authority received reports Six Nations hunters were killing deer in the area.
Residents said they saw Six Nations men in the area wearing camouflage and armed with bows and arrows.
The residents said the hunters cited the Nanfan Treaty of 1701, which gave them perpetual hunting and fishing rights in southewestern Ontario.
Paul Williams, who represents the Haudenosaunee-Six Nations Confederacy, said the first priority is uniting the different voices.
"I think the first best approach is to secure agreement between land holders and the people affected by deer population, and the people who depend upon deer and have relationships with them," he said.
Williams is among a number of proposed members for the advisory committee, which includes representatives from the Haudenosaunee-Six Nations Confederacy, Six Nations band council, Hamilton police, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and two Ancaster residents.
Miazga said the membership is "flexible" and open to change.
The conservation authority is accepting resumes until March 26 from Ancaster residents who preferably live near the conservation area and "who will come in with an open mind to consider all the information," Miazga said.
Terry Carleton, who will represent the Hamilton Naturalists' Club, said he is "skeptical" a deer cull will have long-lasting effects.
A better option, he offered, would be fencing off areas of the conservation area so deer would not damage vegetation or forest regeneration.
He added he was concerned a cull could pose potential dangers to residents in the area.
Gary Wrathall, who will represent the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club on the advisory group, said his organization doesn't have a position on deer hunting, but is an important voice because many of its members and trail monitors hike through the area and need to be aware of entry restrictions.
There isn't a fixed timeline for the advisory committee to come up with its recommendations at this point, Miazga said.
He added members of the public are welcome to sit in on the stakeholders' meetings.