Stoneville fails to approve bow hunting in town

From staff reports
Published: October 8, 2008

Stoneville’s town council decided Tuesday evening not to allow the bow hunting of deer within the town’s corporate limits.
Councilman Eugene DeMoss suggested the idea at the board’s last meeting, presenting it as a way to thin the town’s growing deer population. Police Chief Mike James told board members Tuesday he discussed the issue with someone in the office of the N.C. Wildlife Commission. James said allowing bow hunting within town limits was acceptable as long as state regulations were upheld.
James also said the Wildlife Commission representative told him the towns of Elkin and Stokesdale already allowed bow hunting, and no negative reports had been recorded to date.
Councilmen expressed concern about the application and approval process for permits to bow hunt, and about potential dangers to residents due to the lack of wooded areas in the town limits.
DeMoss withdrew his suggestion when it appeared there were too many problems involved with the process.
The council also voted Tuesday to eliminate signs within Friendship Park. A former council approved allowing one sign for new businesses or town events for a maximum of 30 days, and the present council agreed with that during its December meeting.
Council members became concerned with details about size, design and liability for the signs, however, and decided to prohibit all signs from the park until a better solution could be found.