Cape Girardeau residents decided they did not want bow hunting for deer inside city limits.

By a vote of 1,485 to 1,279, voters on Tuesday ended a long controversy by repealing an ordinance that allowed deer hunting.

This is the the first time in the city’s history an ordinance was repealed by referendum.

 

After months of debate, the city council approved the deer hunt last July. Opponents then collected enough signatures to put the issue on Tuesday’s ballot.

Mayor Harry Rediger said he had no interest in pursuing the issue further.

The Missouri Department of Conservation said the city has an average density of 37 deer per square mile, similar to densities in other state communities where action was been taken to reduce the herd.