The heavily wooded areas that line Parkersburg are home to many deer. Although it may seem scenic to some residents, it's causing headaches for others.

Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell says "We get complaints all the time and more recently we've gotten more complaints of the deer population in the city. We get dozens of complaints a year."

Certain cities with high deer populations, like Marietta, have put in place an urban deer hunt. An option that Parkersburg's Mayor and City Council may be considering soon.

Mayor Newell continues "One of the things that could be done is, by permit only, and of course in cooperation with the department of natural resources, you can issue a certain amount of permits for people to hunt out of a tree stand with a bow, not a gun. Guns are prohibited in the city from being discharged, but a bow to thin out the population in that area."

The idea may seem a little scary to residents living close to the woods, but Mayor Newell says the hunt will be controlled and closely monitored.

"What that doesn't mean is that you'll have hunters roaming the neighborhoods or residential areas with guns or bows and arrows or anything like that."

And it's not just those who work or live within city limits that should be concerned. Even passing motorists need to be aware of the deer population. Mayor Newell says "well, we have major accidents. We have several deer car accidents in the city."

The urban deer hunt is a possible solution to a much too-often dangerous situation.