Managing the Deer Population

The Hudson Oaks community offers a semi-rural residential environment that brings urban wildlife, people, and domestic pets close together. While that can be alluring and entertaining for some, the interactions between these three groups can pose hazards, including very real public safety concerns for the community.

Of particular concern in Hudson Oaks is the overabundant deer population. More frequent interactions between people and deer are leading to, among other problems:

• Threat of disease
• Traffic accidents
• Costly property damage
• Health issues for the deer population

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, “the prohibition of feeding deer is critical to solving [the problem of] overabundance.” Therefore, the City Council adopted Resolution 2012-07(PDF, 180KB) in November 2012 , the full text of which is available here. The resolution asks people in Hudson Oaks to stop feeding all wildlife. Specifically, it says:

The City Council of the City of Hudson Oaks hereby strongly urges and encourages the citizens of the City of Hudson Oaks to cease all supplemental feeding of deer and other wildlife in the City. Supplemental feeding includes the placing, depositing, distributing, or leaving of any fruit, grain, corn, vegetable, mineral, salt, or other food of any kind or nature, or providing water, with the intent to attract or feed white-tailed deer or other wildlife on any public or private lands in the City.

–Hudson Oaks Resolution 2012-07

At this time, the Council is asking for voluntary compliance as the City works to eliminate the problems associated with overabundant deer. However, the resolution also states that, "in the event such voluntary compliance is ineffective, the City Council shall consider an ordinance prohibiting such supplemental feeding in the future."

According to our Deer Feeding Ordinance (Ordinance 2014-10(PDF, 352KB)) that was adopted on 2/27/2014. It states that in the City of Hudson Oaks it is unlawful for any person to intentionally feed deer or make food available for consumption by deer on private or public property within the City. Any person may report a violation of this to the police department of the city. The police department can conduct an inspection under any provision of the city code to also inspect compliance and issue a citation for the violation totaling $500. City officials shall issue a written warning for a first offence. Thereafter, offences shall be subject to standard procedure for ordinance violations.