Large tax bill to pay for controversial Sidney Island deer cull

The plan by Parks Canada focuses on the European fallow deer population on Sydney Island, located between B CS mainland and Vancouver Island. The goal is to restore native vegetation, tree seedlings and shrubs, but there's a hefty bill, according to access to information records. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says a detailed project budget shows it'll cost nearly $12 million to carry out a call of the deer species, which were initially introduced there for hunting purposes. In the mid 1900s, phase one of the operations reportedly will cost more than $800,000, which works out to nearly $10,000 per deer if you take into consideration how many were actually killed. During phase one of the deer cull snipers from the United States and New Zealand were taken around the island in a helicopter while firing on the deer down below. The expert marksman from the United States and New Zealand only managed to kill 84 deer. 18 of which were the wrong species of deer. Park's Canada estimates there are between 300 and 900 invasive deer on Sydney Island. Phase two of the operation is scheduled to begin this fall and will involve ground hunting with dogs. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation notes their eradication of the deer could easily be done through recreational hunting, noting last fall residents of Sydney Island organized their own hunts of the species where they killed 54 deer and at no cost. To taxpayers, Aaron you Bells Global News.