A local veterinarian is being cited for violating the city of
Leavenworth's urban deer management ordinance.
Dr. Stephen Meyer allegedly violated the ordinance by not shooting a deer
from a deer stand, not making an effort to retrieve the animal when it went
onto a neighbor's property and failing to notify police that the deer had
left the property where it was shot with an arrow, according to Maj. Pat
Kitchens, deputy chief of the Leavenworth Police Department.
The violations fall under the same ordinance and Meyer has been mailed
only one citation.
Kitchens said he did not believe a specific fine is attached to the
ordinance. A violation is considered a class C misdemeanor.
Kitchens said police were called to a neighbor's property Jan. 29. A
fallen deer had reportedly been found in the backyard with an arrow in its
head.
Through evidence at the scene and a discussion with the veterinarian,
police determined the deer had been shot on Meyer's property, Kitchens said.
Meyer lives in the 1800 block of South 18th Street.
Kitchens said even though Meyer had signed up to bow hunt for the deer
management program, there are restrictions for participants such as firing
from deer stands.
Police contacted the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The state
conservation officer for the county helped with the investigation.
Kitchens said there was an issue as to whether Meyer would be cited
through the city or by the conservation officer for state violations.
"The matter will remain local," Kitchens said.
Meyer was arrested August 2003 after he reportedly admitted to shooting
three deer within the city limits with a shotgun. He later pleaded no
contest to three fish and game violations and was fined $810.
