Don't cook the moose's

goose just yet.

While the 6-foot, 6-inch statue

greeting visitors outside the Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse is afoul of Fayetteville's

sign regulations, it won't be coming down anytime soon.

But the moose might not make

it through hunting season, joked Councilman Larry Dell.

"To some guys down here,

that might look like a pretty big deer," Dell said.

The Fayetteville City Council

declined to order the moose down; instead a request for a sign variance

to allow the statue was tabled.

When the issue came up, Mayor

Ken Steele asked if anyone would address council to "represent the

moose." A mascot-type moose head popped up from the audience, sparking

a fit of raucous laughter from the crowd.

"Will you be speaking

for yourself, Mr. Moose?" Steele cracked. The moose was just a figurehead,

however, and human Mitch Linneberry represented Bugaboo Creek in the discussion

with council. He noted that the statue was on the company's plans

that were approved by the city.

"We didn't realize

it violated city codes," Linneberry said. The company will not dress

the moose up for special occasions or string lights on it to draw attention,

Linneberry added.

The moose statue is technically

a third outdoor sign under the eyes of the sign ordinance, explained Jahnee

Prince, the city's director of planning and zoning. But it can also

be viewed as public art, and city staff is preparing a public art ordinance

for the council's review early next year, Prince said.

Councilman Glenn Brewer said

he views the moose as a piece of art.

The steak house, which offers

fare inspired by the Canadian Rockies, takes the moose theme up a notch

inside with a talking moose head to entertain patrons. The moose statue

out front is more of the silent sort, but its offbeat presence is a signature

for the restaurant chain.

And for now, it's here

to stay.

"I think it's the

intention of the city to work with you," Steele said.