Deer Management

Deer 1
The City of Town and Country will make every effort to remove dead deer from private property either by City Staff or contracting with an animal control company. 

During normal business hours, (8:00 am to 4:30 pm M-F) contact City Hall at 314-432-6606. 

Evenings, weekends and holidays, please contact the police department at 737-4600.  An officer will respond.  In most cases the deer will be picked up the next business day. 

If a resident/subdivision requires more immediate removal we recommend contracting with any private wildlife removal company.  You can also email deer@town-and-country.org or Report a Concern about dead deer on private property or roadways.

If the deer is on Mason, Weidman, Conway or Ballas, you may contact St. Louis County at 314-615-1111. 

If the deer is on a MoDOT highway/roadway, or outer road, please call 1-888-275-6636. 

JANUARY, 2022 - Update

SUMMARY- The deer management program is now in the maintenance phase, achieving a population that is estimated below 30 deer per square mile after the January 2022 program. To maintain this population level the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recommended the removal of 50 deer in the Winter of 2022.

Funds contained in the 2022 budget for an agreement with White Buffalo also included a distance sampling study; as well as bait and meat processing for the St. Louis Area Foodbank. The program ran for one week late January.

BACKGROUND – In January 2022 White Buffalo removed 51 deer from the population, achieving a population estimate of approximately 25 deer per square mile. An archery hunt was implemented in St. Louis County's Queeny Park during the 2020-2021 hunting season.  This hunt resulted on the removal of 30 deer according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) website.  Results from the 2021-2022 season increased to 37.  Harvest through this program should be additive to the ongoing management efforts in Town & Country.  During Distance Sampling (deer population estimate) numerous deer were still observed along Mason Road where it adjoins Queeny Park. 

There were 56 recorded deer/vehicle collisions in 2021, which is an increase compared to 37 in 2020. The locations of the program will continue to focus upon those areas with the highest population and crash experience. (See Deer/Vehicle Charts below)

The total amount in the 2022 budget is $35,000:
  • $24,845 White Buffalo for culling
  • $5,000 Distance Sampling (population estimate)
  • $5,100 Food processing for St. Louis Area Foodbank
Comments and inquiries about the potential use of your property for deer management can be sent to deer@town-and-country.org.

For information about the previous Deer Management Task Force, including Task Force Reports, click HERE


7 Ways To Avoid Hitting A Deer
 deer graphicDeer mating season can be a dangerous time for drivers, deer and car hoods. According to the Insurance Information Institute, 1.6 million deer-vehicle collisions occur each year, resulting in 200 fatalities, tens of thousands of injuries and over $3.6 billion in vehicle damage. Being prepared can help prevent you from adding to these statistics.

When driving, you should:

1. Watch for the rest of the gang. Deer are pack animals, and rarely travel alone. If a deer crosses in front of you, chances are there are more nearby. Slow down and keep an eye out for more deer darting across the road.

2. Timing is everything. Deer are most active at dusk and dawn: periods when your vision is most compromised. To add to their terrible timing, deer are on the move during mating season (between October and January) when you’re more likely to travel after the sun sets. Slow down and stay alert, especially after dark.

3. Wear your seat belt. It may not prevent a collision, but if the inevitable happens a seat belt can reduce injuries. This is especially true if you lose control and collide with something bigger, and more stationary than a deer.

4. Take a moment to reflect. First, look for the road signs. The yellow diamonds with the deer on it are placed in high-traffic areas for deer. You may also spot a deer because their eyes will brightly reflect a car’s headlights, making them easier to spot.

5. Stay Center. On a multi-lane road, the center lane is your safest bet for avoiding a deer collision, as long as your local traffic laws permit it. This gives deer plenty of space; and in case your vehicle does startle them, it gives you more time to react if one darts onto the road.

6. Stay the course. If you see a deer, brake firmly and calmly, and stay in your lane. Swerving could make you lose control of your vehicle and turn a bad situation much worse. Not to mention, deer are unpredictable, and you could swerve directly into their changed path.

7. Honk! Some experts recommend that one long blast of the horn will scare deer out of the road. Do not rely on hood whistles or other devices designed to scare off deer—studies have shown them to be largely ineffective at minimizing accidents.

We hope you’ll never need this section.  If the above plan fails (and it happens to the best drivers), you should take the following steps in the deer collision aftermath.

1. Pull to the side of the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

2. Turn on your hazard lights and remain in the vehicle until you are sure it is safe.

3. Call emergency services if injuries are involved or the local police for property damage.

4. Stay away from the deer. If it is still alive, it could be confused, injured and dangerous if approached. When contacting the authorities, let them know if the deer is in a dangerous spot on the road so that it can be removed.